The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is preparing to slash half of its workforce, a move that could cripple key offices responsible for enforcing civil rights laws, tracking housing market data, and funding disaster recovery efforts.
According to Antonio Gaines, president of AFGE National Council 222, these cuts will have devastating consequences for the department’s ability to fulfill its mission.
First reported by Bloomberg Law, the job reductions will leave the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) untouched — an agency within HUD that insures mortgages — but will deeply affect the department’s core functions.
The FHA plays a crucial role in the housing market, but without the broader support of HUD’s other programs, its effectiveness could be significantly undermined.
HUD currently employs approximately 9,600 people, meaning that cutting half its staff could lead to the permanent loss of entire programs. The department oversees critical initiatives that provide affordable housing, enforce fair housing laws, and assist communities recovering from natural disasters. Without sufficient personnel, efforts to address housing discrimination, track economic trends, and support low-income families could grind to a halt.
This dramatic reduction in staff follows a February 11 directive from President Donald Trump, which ordered federal agencies to prepare for mass layoffs. The directive specifically targets jobs that are "not mandated by statute" — a category that, according to the order, includes diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
And HUD is not alone. The U.S. Forest Service is expected to cut 3,400 workers, according to the agency’s union president.
Meanwhile, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is also bracing for deep reductions a week of heavy-handed actions crippled the functioning of the agency.
Unions representing CFPB employees warn that most of the agency’s employees will be let go "imminently."
