It?s a symbolic move that comes after many concrete measures that deprioritize anti-discrimination The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) was created in 1965 at the peak of the civil rights era, and desegregation and anti-discrimination in housing has always been one of its core objectives, particularly during the Obama administration.
But since taking over as Secretary last year, Ben Carson has made a number of moves signaling that these are not priorities for the Trump administration, and according to a leaked internal HUD memo obtained by HuffPost, he?s making it official.
According to HuffPost, the memo announces that HUD is removing the anti-discrimination language from HUD?s mission statement in favor of one that supports ?self-sufficiency,? a common theme in much of Carson?s actions and rhetoric. ?HUD?s mission is to ensure Americans have access to fair, affordable housing and opportunities to achieve self-sufficiency, thereby strengthening our communities and nation,? the new mission statement reads.
The old mission statement is still on HUD?s website and includes, among other things, a desire to ?build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination? and to ?protect consumers.?
While changing the mission statement is a largely symbolic change, it comes after a number of concrete attempts by HUD under Carson to roll back Obama-era rules designed to combat segregation and discrimination.
Late in 2017, HUD announced its intention...