HUD Official Quits After Personnel Announcement Gaffe

Oct 22, 2018

Suzanne Israel Turfts, the Assistant Secretary for Administration at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), resigned on Friday after the incorrect announcement that she was being given a new assignment at the Department of the Interior.

According to a report in The Hill, HUD Secretary Ben Carson informed his Department one week earlier that Tufts would become Acting Inspector General at Interior. However, Interior issued its own statement denying this would occur.

“Ms. Tufts is not employed by the Department and no decision was ever made to move her to Interior,” said Interior spokeswoman Heather Swift in a statement issued on Thursday. “HUD sent out an e-mail that had false information in it.”
Tufts offered her resignation the day after Swift’s statement. Carson offered an explanation that the announcement of Tufts’ move was because of a “recent miscommunication at the staff level.”

Tufts position at HUD required Senate confirmation, which leaves another high-level vacancy at the Department. Interior has not had an Inspector General for nearly a decade, with the role being handled by a Deputy-level official.

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Phil Hall

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Oct 22, 2018

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