U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner announced the formation of a new task force aimed at increasing efficiency and cutting waste within the agency. This initiative, dubbed the Department of Government Efficiency, was revealed during a press conference on Thursday, where Turner emphasized the importance of accountability in government spending.
Turner stated that the task force is part of a broader effort to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse within HUD. He highlighted that the agency had recently recovered $1.9 billion in funds that had been misplaced during the Biden administration. These funds, originally intended for the administration of financial services, are now available for use by the U.S. Department of Treasury.
The HUD DOGE Task Force will be led by agency employees and is tasked with reviewing HUD’s financial practices to ensure taxpayer dollars are being spent effectively. Turner noted that the task force had already identified over $260 million in potential savings, indicating a proactive approach to financial management within the agency. He expressed confidence that the task force would play a critical role in enhancing the efficiency of HUD’s operations.
In addition to the HUD initiative, other federal agencies are also responding to calls for increased scrutiny of spending. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the cancellation of a $50 million grant to the Climate Justice Alliance, citing concerns that taxpayer money should not support organizations with political agendas. Meanwhile, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has pledged to collaborate with the HUD task force to identify and eliminate wasteful expenditures within the Department of Defense.
Turner attributed the impetus for these changes to President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at maximizing governmental efficiency and productivity. He underscored that the new task force would ensure all programs and personnel within HUD are aligned with the department’s goals to better serve American communities.
As the HUD DOGE Task Force begins its work, it is expected to set a precedent for other federal agencies to follow suit in reviewing their spending practices, ultimately aiming for a more responsible and transparent government.