Two Senior HUD Attorneys Ousted After Challenging Fair Housing Rollbacks
In a move drawing sharp criticism from civil rights advocates, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) abruptly dismissed two veteran civil rights lawyers who had internally raised alarms about the agency’s weakening enforcement of the Fair Housing Act under the Trump administration .
What Triggered the Firings?
According to internal communications obtained by The New York Times, the attorneys—both with over 15 years of service—had formally objected to a series of policy shifts that effectively halted investigations into housing discrimination complaints, particularly those involving race, disability, and source-of-income bias.
- They warned that HUD was ignoring statutory deadlines for responding to complaints.
- They flagged the cancellation of planned enforcement actions against major landlords.
- They cited leadership’s refusal to pursue cases involving exclusionary zoning in affluent suburbs.
Days after submitting a joint memo to senior officials, both were placed on administrative leave and subsequently terminated without public explanation.
Timeline of Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Sept. 12, 2025 | Attorneys submit internal memo warning of Fair Housing Act violations |
| Sept. 18, 2025 | Both placed on administrative leave |
| Sept. 27, 2025 | Terminations confirmed; no official reason given |
| Sept. 29, 2025 | Whistleblower protections invoked; case referred to Office of Special Counsel |
Broader Implications
Critics argue the dismissals signal a systemic effort to dismantle HUD’s civil rights enforcement arm—a trend that began during Trump’s first term and has accelerated in 2025.
“This isn’t just about two lawyers—it’s about whether the federal government will uphold its legal duty to prevent housing discrimination,” said Lisa Rice, president of the National Fair Housing Alliance .
[INTERNAL_LINK:Fair Housing Act] | [INTERNAL_LINK:HUD Whistleblower Cases]
