WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), the top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, released this statement following the Trump Administration’s late night Executive Order intended to gut the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH). Created under President Ronald Reagan, USICH is an independent federal agency within the U.S. executive branch that leads the implementation of the federal strategic plan to prevent and end homelessness.
“As if decimating the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and gutting our nation’s fair housing rules weren’t enough, late Friday night when the Trump Administration thought everyone was asleep, they moved quietly to dismantle the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) by bureaucratic fiat. This is consistent with his attacks on the social safety net, including Social Security, Medicaid, and now programs to end homelessness. Trump’s attempt to dismantle a non-partisan independent agency that does indispensable work to combat homelessness within the United States shows that cruelty is truly his goal.
“It’s also clear that Trump has absolutely no idea what USICH does or the purpose the agency serves. USICH’s role is to reduce bureaucracy to make federal efforts to end homelessness more coordinated, streamlined, and effective. USICH also helps local communities end homelessness by providing technical assistance, which is especially critical in rural areas where homelessness is worsening rapidly. It is in part thanks to the work of USICH that veteran homelessness reached the lowest levels ever recorded in 2024.
“Make no mistake that Trump’s reckless attacks across the federal government will supercharge the housing and homelessness crisis in communities across the country. At a time when a record 771,480 people are already experiencing homelessness in the United States and countless families are just one missed paycheck away from facing the same fate, the Trump Administration’s actions threaten to worsen this crisis and completely undo the progress we’ve made. While Trump and the DOGE Ketamine Klan continue their assault on our nation’s most vulnerable, the American people should rest assured that Committee Democrats will continue fighting to ensure every American has access to the safe and affordable housing they deserve.”
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