The Trump administration has launched a nationwide audit of public housing programs to ensure that residents are legally present in the United States, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner announced. Under the new directive, public housing authorities across the country have 30 days to verify the citizenship or “eligible immigration status” of all current residents and submit their findings to HUD.
Turner stated that the initiative specifically targets illegal immigrants who may be benefiting from federally funded housing assistance. “No longer will illegal aliens be able to leave citizenship boxes blank or take advantage of HUD-funded housing,” he said. Turner also noted that HUD currently serves only one in four eligible American families, blaming part of the housing shortage on poor enforcement of immigration-related eligibility requirements.
Programs found to be noncompliant could face cuts to their federal funding, according to Turner. The D.C. Housing Authority was the first to be placed on notice, with more than 3,000 other public housing agencies expected to receive similar directives. Turner emphasized that American citizens would be prioritized under the new policy, telling Fox News, “We’re making sure housing goes to those who are here legally.”
The move received strong support from Republicans. Senator Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) wrote on X, “Anyone in this country illegally should be deported, not given publicly funded housing!” However, critics like former HUD official Cat Vielma argued the audit could unnecessarily divert resources from vulnerable groups such as seniors and veterans without producing meaningful enforcement outcomes.
The public housing review follows a March memorandum between HUD and the Department of Homeland Security aimed at increasing oversight amid a rise in illegal immigration. Simultaneously, a federal appeals court upheld Trump’s authority to revoke Biden-era immigration parole programs, reinforcing his broader immigration agenda and delivering a major policy win for his administration.
