U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Ranking Member Warren requests HUD Inspector General investigation into whistleblower allegations of civil rights enforcement rollbacks

The U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs’ Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren wrote to the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Acting Inspector General, Brian Harrison, calling for an independent investigation into whistleblower allegations that HUD leadership has systematically undermined fair housing and civil rights enforcement, including the withdrawal of hundreds of housing discrimination cases and possible legal violations. The whistleblowers, identified as attorneys in HUD’s Office of General Counsel Office of Fair Housing (OFH) and the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO), allege that HUD leadership rescinded referrals to the Department of Justice and dropped major investigations and cases, including matters where the agency had already found civil rights violations. The letter also highlights claims that staff were told fair housing was “not a priority,” a reported 75% staff cut that allegedly left HUD unable to enforce the Violence Against Women Act, and an asserted verbal “gag order” restricting OFH attorneys from communicating with external parties, including DOJ, other agencies and complaint parties, without political approval. The letter asks HUD’s Office of Inspector General to investigate the allegations and determine whether HUD is fulfilling its statutory obligations to implement and enforce federal civil rights and fair housing laws.