The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) just wiped out an Obama-era rule. Secretary Scott Turner called it “extreme and restrictive” for housing developers.
Trump had already scrapped the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rule during his first term. He argued it hurt single-family zoning and only helped “far-left Washington bureaucrats.”
Biden attempted to bring it back. But, according to Politico, he hesitated, fearing political fallout before reelection. Now, HUD is shutting it down entirely.
The rule forced local governments to prove new housing wouldn’t increase disparities. It required studies on access to schools, parks, and hospitals. HUD says those mandates are gone.
A HUD official clarified that housing discrimination remains illegal. Localities will now self-certify that developments follow the Fair Housing Act.
“Far-left Democrats have tried to socially re-engineer communities from the top down,” Turner said. He argued the rule wasted local resources and budgets.
Without the AFFH rule, local governments won’t drown in paperwork. Turner believes this change will help rural, urban, and tribal communities.
Research from the Cato Institute found the AFFH rule cost taxpayers $55 million a year. Now, that burden is gone.