The U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs published opening remarks by Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren at a nomination hearing for five Trump Administration nominees, concluding that she will vote against all five. Her statement raised specific objections to Craig Trainor’s nomination to be an Assistant Secretary at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), arguing he is not suited to enforce housing anti-discrimination laws, and to Ben DeMarzo’s nomination for HUD Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs in light of allegations that HUD has been subverting congressional inquiries. Warren also criticized Francis Brooke’s nomination for an Assistant Secretary role at the Department of the Treasury as aligned with the President’s trade agenda, and said Commerce nominee David Peters was unprepared to oversee export controls after he did not answer a question on safeguards to prevent the U.A.E. and other countries from passing advanced chips to China. While expressing some support for Export-Import Bank chair nominee John Jovanovic’s stated commitments on transparency and monitoring environmental and social impacts, she said she still could not support his nomination given the ongoing tariff policy.
U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs 2025-07-23
U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Ranking Member Warren announces opposition to five Trump nominees for HUD, Treasury, Export-Import Bank and Commerce
The U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs released remarks by Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren opposing five Trump Administration nominees. Warren criticized Craig Trainor and Ben DeMarzo for roles at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Francis Brooke and David Peters for positions at the Treasury and Commerce Departments. While acknowledging some positive commitments from Export-Import Bank chair nominee John Jovanovic, Warren cited tariff policy concerns for her opposition.