Today, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), the top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, released the following statement after President Donald Trump ordered the mass firing of Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) employees in the midst of the Trump-Republican government shutdown—which Republicans initiated because of their refusal to negotiate with Democrats to protect health care for millions of Americans.

According to the  Office of Management and Budget, approximately 442 HUD employees were terminated, including 103 from the Office of Public and Indian Housing, 36 from Housing Counseling, 50 from Housing Operations, 114 from Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, and 30 from Community Planning and Development. The Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity alone has already seen its workforce cut by 45 percent since Trump took office, leaving critical housing programs deeply understaffed and millions of Americans at risk.

“This is cruel, dangerous, and disgraceful. President Trump has once again chosen to attack working families and the very public servants who help keep roofs over their heads. By firing 442 HUD employees, many of whom support housing counseling and community development programs, he is deliberately weakening an agency that millions of Americans depend on.

Let’s be clear: Trump, with full support from Republicans, is illegally using this shutdown as a pretext to undermine our housing system and dismantle programs that protect millions of families in dire need of federal assistance. From the beginning he has made no secret of his intent. He said himself that he’s ‘cutting Democrat programs.’ Since when is housing a Democratic issue?

Since taking office, Trump has done everything he can to dismantle HUD, including violating the law, gutting fair housing enforcement, defunding federal housing programs, and now, eliminating the very staff needed to help carry out essential agency operations.

While Trump wages war on working Americans, I and my Democratic colleagues remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting families, restoring HUD’s mission, and holding this Administration accountable. I will never stop fighting to rebuild HUD and ensure every person and family—regardless of race, zip code, or income—have a safe and affordable place to call home.”

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