You might have been waiting for this article, and its many revelations about life inside the Department of Housing and Urban Development, since January or November.
An article by Alec MacGillis tackles one of the enduring questions of planners and urbanists since the dawn of the Trump Administration: "Is Anybody Home at HUD?"
That's the pointed headline, and the summary text gives a quick answer: "A long-harbored conservative dream — the 'dismantling of the administrative state' — is taking place under Secretary Ben Carson."
But the feature-length, investigatory article takes its time in building a case to back that claim, including interviews with past and current department officials, background on the genesis and evolution of the department, and the emergence of a narrative about the HUD under the leadership of President Trump, advisors like Steve Bannon (until recently, anyway), a secretary like Ben Carson.
MacGillis's conclusion:
HUD has emerged as the perfect distillation of the right’s antipathy to governing. If the great radical-conservative dream was, in Grover Norquist’s famous words, to “drown government in a bathtub,” then this was what the final gasps of one department might look like.
Some of the most compelling portions of the article include testimony from staffers on hand throughout the Administration's transition and the first seven months of its activities. MacGillis also spoke with staffers close to Carson during his failed presidential campaign and since.
If you have any interest in federal programs related to housing and development, or just an undying curiosity in the effect of the Trump era on federal government, set aside some time to read the article in full.
FULL STORY: Is Anybody Home at HUD?
Ben Carson’s Clear Disdain for Fair and Affordable Housing
Carson has spent much of his time as HUD secretary attacking the housing programs, initiatives, and regulations central to the agency’s mission.
More Reports of Trouble at the Top of HUD
Another in a string of detailed exposés on the working conditions and policy agenda of the Department of Housing and Urban Development under the leadership of Secretary Ben Carson.
Local Public Housing Agencies Resist HUD's Proposed Section 8 Rule
A proposed rule to disqualify all families living with an undocumented person from receiving federal housing aid is available for comment. We know a few people who oppose the rule.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
Downtown Los Angeles on the Rise: A Promising 2025
Fueled by new developments, cultural investments, and a growing dining scene, downtown Los Angeles is poised for significant growth in 2025, despite challenges from recent wildfires and economic uncertainties.
A Plan to Expand Tree Canopy Across Dayton
Dayton is developing an urban forest master plan, using a $2 million grant to expand its tree canopy, address decades of tree loss, and enhance environmental equity across the city.
Decarbonizing Homes: The Case for Electrifying Residential Heating
A new MIT study finds that transitioning residential heating from natural gas to electric heat pumps can significantly reduce carbon emissions and operational costs.
Preserving Altadena’s Trees: A Community Effort to Save a Fire-Damaged Landscape
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena Green is working to preserve fire-damaged but recoverable trees, advocating for better assessment processes, educating homeowners, and protecting the community’s urban canopy from unnecessary removal.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Economic & Planning Systems, Inc.
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research