Trump Nominates Scott Turner as HUD Secretary Following Senate Procedural Vote
Scott Turner, nominated by President Trump to lead HUD, advances in the Senate with a procedural vote. Turner aims to promote self-sufficiency among Americans and has a history in both the NFL and Texas politics.
President Donald Trump on Tuesday emphasized that Iran would be "obliterated" if he were to be assassinated by them.
In another development, Scott Turner, a former NFL player and Texas state lawmaker, advanced past a significant procedural hurdle in the Senate on Tuesday night, setting the stage for a final confirmation vote to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) later this week.
The nomination passed the procedural vote by a margin of 55-45, with two Democrats voting alongside Republicans.
Trump had announced Turner as his selection for HUD secretary shortly after his election in November of last year.
In Trump's previous administration, Dr. Ben Carson, a former GOP presidential candidate, held the position of HUD secretary.
Turner made a name for himself by playing nine seasons in the NFL after being drafted in 1995, participating as a defensive back for teams including the Washington Redskins, the San Diego Chargers, and the Denver Broncos.
Following his NFL career, he pursued a political path in Texas, where he served in the state legislature.
In his announcement, Trump highlighted Turner's contributions during his last tenure as the First Executive Director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council (WHORC). Trump stated that Turner "led an unprecedented effort that transformed our country's most distressed communities."
He added that "those efforts, working together with former HUD Secretary Ben Carson, were maximized by Scott's guidance in overseeing 16 Federal Agencies which implemented more than 200 policy actions promoting economic development. Under Scott's leadership, Opportunity Zones received over $50 billion in private investment."
During Turner's hearing before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs last month, he expressed his intent to address various broken policy areas and to wean Americans off government assistance.
Turner asserted that his goal is "to help people get off government assistance, become self-sustainable and achieve the American dream."
