Today, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), the top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, released the following statement in response to reports that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is preparing to drop seven major investigations and cases against local and state governments across the U.S. concerning alleged discriminatory housing practices.

“The Trump Administration’s reported plans to drop seven major housing discrimination cases are a blatant attack on people of color, families with children, women, people with disabilities, and other members of protected classes under the ‘Fair Housing Act.’ The victims in each of these cases will now be denied the justice they deserve.

This appalling move is yet another part of the Administration’s war on Fair Housing. Since taking office, the Trump Administration terminated 780 housing agency staff — with plans to fire at least three quarters of staff within the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity — canceled nearly half of fair housing grants, repealed critical fair housing enforcement through HUD’s Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Rule and the Equal Access Rule, and gave Elon Musk access to personally identifiable discrimination data, including sexual assault survivors. This latest decision underscores the urgent need for Congress to restore the ‘Fair Housing Act.’ That includes passing my bill, the ‘Restoring Fair Housing Protections Eliminated by Trump Act of 2025,’ which would restore the Affirmative Furthering Fair Housing Rule that was eliminated by Secretary Turner and ensure Americans have access to safe and affordable housing.”

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