Title
Condemning the Trump Administration for its reprehensible actions to drastically defund the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which will have a devastating effect on the enforcement of fair housing laws, damage communities, and escalate the affordable housing crisis.
Body
WHEREAS, The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) was established on September 9, 1965 by President Lyndon B. Johnson, as part of his “Great Society” initiative to better address urban problems and coordinate federal housing programs including community development and affordable housing; and
WHEREAS, HUD’s mission is to increase access to affordable housing, expand homeownership, fight housing discrimination, tackle homelessness, and strengthen communities through economic development. HUD’s goal is to create sustainable, strong, inclusive communities with quality affordable homes for all; and
WHEREAS, HUD’s core functions are to increase fair housing, homeownership, provide community development block grants, and develop and administer housing and community development programs in partnership with cities; and
WHEREAS, HUD’s record of accomplishments span 60 years due to the thousands of communities and millions of Americans that have benefitted from HUD’s community development programs and housing; and
WHEREAS, President Trump created the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) task force on January 20, 2025, by executive order in a mission to slash federal spending. This task force is led by billionaire Elon Musk who was not appointed through a Senate confirmation hearing but now has unprecedented control and access to federal government systems and agencies; and
WHEREAS, DOGE’s goal is to cut any federal spending that doesn’t align with Trump’s Project 2025 agenda. The projected slash to federal spending would be $500 billion in annual spending, which is represented by about 7% of the federal government’s $6.7 trillion in annual expenditures; and
WHEREAS, The DOGE Task Force has proposed cuts to HUD’s workforce by 50% with deep cuts to the offices nationwide. Targeting the HUD workforce threatens to disrupt HUD’s core functions across the country, harm the economy, and critically disinvest in communities that depend on affordable housing; and
WHEREAS, These thoughtless and reckless cuts from DOGE to HUD’s funding and staff will further damage communities, including Philadelphia, and prevent HUD’s ability to continue to maintain and build our nation’s supply of safe and affordable housing and address the affordable housing crisis; and
WHEREAS, By virtue of this resolution, we reaffirm the City of Philadelphia’s commitment to protect the rights of our most vulnerable residents in the midst of an ongoing housing crisis by condemning cuts to federal funding and support for community development and affordable housing programs; now therefore, be it
RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHA, That it hereby condemns the Trump Administration for its reprehensible actions to drastically defund the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which will have a devastating effect on the enforcement of fair housing laws, damage communities, and escalate the affordable housing crisis.
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