Politics

Trump Announces Ben Carson Is His Pick For HUD Secretary

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Alex Pfeiffer White House Correspondent
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President-elect Donald Trump announced Monday that he intends to have retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson serve as his Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

“I am thrilled to nominate Dr. Ben Carson as our next Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Ben Carson has a brilliant mind and is passionate about strengthening communities and families within those communities,” President-elect Trump said in a statement about his former primary rival.

Trump added, “We have talked at length about my urban renewal agenda and our message of economic revival, very much including our inner cities. Ben shares my optimism about the future of our country and is part of ensuring that this is a Presidency representing all Americans.”

Carson does not have any government experience. The retired neurosurgeon did though grow up in public housing.

“I am honored to accept the opportunity to serve our country in the Trump administration,” Carson said in a statement. “I feel that I can make a significant contribution particularly by strengthening communities that are most in need. We have much work to do in enhancing every aspect of our nation and ensuring that our nation’s housing needs are met.”

Under President Barack Obama, HUD has undertaken many policies Republican have taken issue with, such as the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Rule, which allows HUD to tie important federal grants to key changes to state and local zoning laws. Trump has previously told officials that this policy will end under his administration.