Marcia Fudge, who assumed the role of Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in March 2021, is stepping down from the Biden administration, announced the White House on Monday.
President Joe Biden praised Fudge's efforts, stating, "When I took office, we inherited a broken housing system, with fair housing and civil rights protections badly dismantled under the prior administration." He commended Fudge's work in rebuilding HUD and advocating for expanding homeownership and fairness for renters.
Fudge's departure will see Deputy Secretary Adrianne Todman stepping in as acting secretary.
The White House confirmed Fudge's departure later this month, making her the second Cabinet secretary to leave during Biden's first term, following Marty Walsh in March 2023.
Biden's 2025 budget request includes a nearly $500 million increase in funding for the department, aiming to enhance access to affordable housing and reduce housing costs.
Prior to her role in the Biden administration, Fudge served as a Congresswoman for an Ohio Congressional District from 2008 to 2021, including a stint as chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus.
The accolades for Fudge were plentiful.
"We commend Secretary Fudge and her staff for their contributions on numerous issues, including working with the industry to ensure struggling borrowers could remain in their homes through COVID-19 forbearance relief and other loss mitigation reforms, making homeownership more affordable by lowering mortgage insurance premiums, increasing multifamily large loan limits for the first time in nearly a decade, and implementing improvements to existing HUD programs to boost single-family and multifamily housing supply," MBA President and CEO Bob Broeksmit said.
The National Housing Conference’s President and CEO David M. Dworkin added: “Secretary Marcia Fudge's tenure at HUD has surpassed all expectations, including her own, earning her recognition as a highly consequential HUD Secretary. Throughout her leadership, Secretary Fudge has been a steadfast advocate for equitable housing policies, championing initiatives aimed at alleviating homelessness, expanding access to affordable housing, and fostering sustainable communities."
