Maxine Waters hand delivers protest letter to HUD. Scott Turner calls it a ‘political stunt’

“In light of these existing trends, plans to terminate HUD staff across the country, freeze HUD funding which makes up less than 1% of all federal spending, as well as the decision to “[go] after” the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rule by repealing it altogether and halt fair housing enforcement efforts under the Equal Access Rule, are cause for deep concern about the future of fair and affordable housing in this great nation,” the letter read.

Waters announced her intention several days ago to hand deliver the letter to Turner. The event turned into a rally that was attended by current and recently laid-off federal workers, including some who had been separated from HUD.

“I did see it coming. It felt like we were seeing it across the board with other agencies, but nevertheless, it was still shocking,” said Abigail Young, an attendee who described herself as a former HUD staffer to Washington, D.C.-based ABC affiliate WJLA.

“It was traumatizing just to get a general letter without my name to dismiss us. I did see other agencies firing probationary employees, so I wasn’t necessarily shocked, but very sad. It really hit me that my career with HUD is over for now.”

In addition to the job cuts, protestors were also vocal about the potential for cutting certain HUD programs, actions they said would exacerbate U.S. housing affordability issues.

After approaching the front of the HUD headquarters building, Waters addressed the crowd.

“We came to deliver a letter to him, but they wouldn’t let us do it,” she said, according to WJLA. “We were stopped by someone who said he was a chief of staff and someone else who didn’t identify himself, and they said he was too busy. I said I’m prepared to stay here until hell freezes over. They’re canceling fair housing funding and civil rights.”

A post on social media platform X by an account describing itself as Turner’s press office disputed Waters’ claims, calling the event a “political stunt” and saying she was permitted access to the building and an audience with “senior leadership” at the agency.

A separate post on X by a user who identified herself as a reporter for conservative news website Breitbart captured the exchange between Waters and HUD staff, who told the congresswoman that Turner was in a meeting but that they would deliver the letter on her behalf.

In the letter, Waters and other signatories accuse HUD of working with DOGE staffers who “come from the very industries that stand to gain from the dismantling of the federal government’s role in housing and consumer protections, and the path that creates for greater housing market consolidation and profiteering at the expense of families.”

The letter specifically names Scott Langmack, chief operating officer of Kukun, which offers automated valuation models (AVMs) that “are subject to Fair Housing Act compliance enforced by HUD,” the letter stated.

Another named individual who is allegedly connected to DOGE, Michael Mirski, is described as a managing member of TCC Asset Management LLC. The letter describes the company as “an unregistered private fund that purchases and consolidates manufactured housing communities as well as RV parks.”

Waters describes news stories of recent years in which private investment companies “have increasingly been purchasing manufactured housing communities and raising pad lease rents, threatening the affordability of these homes once referred to as ‘naturally occurring’ affordable housing due to their affordability in the absence of subsidy.”

The letter makes a series of informational requests of Turner and HUD with a response deadline of March 14.

It seeks a list of official meetings since Turner assumed office; a list of DOGE staffers given agency access; a full list of terminated HUD employees since Inauguration Day; copies of any written communications between HUD, DOGE or both sent to HUD staff; and a full list of contracts that HUD or DOGE have identified for delay or cancellation.

The lawmakers are also seeking “a list of names of private equity firms, real estate-related companies, or housing-related organizations where anyone hired or brought on after January 20, 2025, including as part of DOGE, currently or previously worked, and whether such entities received payments or financial assistance through funding or loans administered by HUD, the Federal Housing Administration, or Ginnie Mae.”