WASHINGTON — Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia Fudge announced Monday that she would be leaving her position effective March 22, saying she was leaving “with mixed feelings.”
A former mayor of Warrensville Heights, Ohio, and later an Ohio representative in Congress, Fudge, 71, served as HUD secretary since the start of President Joe Biden’s administration.
“As a dedicated public servant, for nearly five decades I have been committed to improving the quality of life for the people of this country, focusing on those in greatest need,” Fudge said in a statement. “I have served at every level of government… I have worked tirelessly to ensure that America lives up to its promise of freedom and justice for all.”
Fudge’s statement did not give a reason as to why she was resigning now, saying only that she planned to “transition to life as a private citizen.”
The White House in a statement praised Fudge’s commitment to increasing the supply of affordable housing and protecting the housing needs of some of the nation’s most vulnerable residents.
“From her time as mayor to her years as a fierce advocate in the U.S. House of Representatives, Marcia’s vision, passion and focus on expanding economic opportunity have been of great value to our country,” said Biden, a Democrat. “I am grateful for all her contributions to a housing system that works for all Americans, and I wish her the best in her next chapter.”
White House deputy press secretary Olivia Dalton said Biden “will certainly nominate a replacement” for Fudge, but she did not provide a timeline for the process. For now, Assistant Secretary Adrianne Todman will serve as acting HUD secretary when Fudge leaves, the White House said.
Under Fudge, HUD “worked closely with partners at the federal, state and local levels to increase housing supply, especially the supply of affordable housing, while allocating historic resources to address homelessness,” Dalton said. “And with Secretary Fudge at the helm, HUD strictly enforced fair housing laws and took a stand against racial bias and discrimination in the appraisal market.”
David M. Dworkin, chairman of the National Housing Conference, said in a statement that Fudge’s tenure at HUD had “exceeded all expectations,” and he praised her for helping Americans deal with the economic ravages of the coronavirus pandemic while prioritizing gave an affordable housing policy.
Dworkin called Fudge a steadfast advocate for fair housing policies and said she supported initiatives aimed at “alleviating homelessness, expanding access to affordable housing and promoting sustainable communities.”
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Associated Press writer Fatima Hussein on Air Force One contributed to this report.
