The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will no longer enforce a rule that prohibits discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals in federally funded programs. This decision effectively allows shelters to deny services to transgender people.
Just days after being confirmed as HUD secretary, Scott Turner issued an order halting any pending or future enforcement actions related to a 2016 department rule titled Equal Access in Accordance With an Individual’s Gender Identity in Community Planning and Development Programs.
The 2016 regulation expanded the Equal Access Rule of 2012, which banned discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and marital status, ensuring that core HUD programs remained accessible to all eligible individuals and families.
Under the new directive, housing programs, shelters, and other HUD-funded providers will now be required to offer services based on an individual’s sex at birth. This aligns with President Donald Trump’s executive order establishing that the official policy of the U.S. recognizes “only two sexes.”
Announcing the change, Turner, a former Buffalo Bills and San Diego Chargers player, said the previous rule had tied the department’s programs to what he described as far-left gender ideology.
“We, at this agency, are carrying out the mission laid out by President Trump when he signed an executive order to restore biological truth to the federal government,” Turner stated. “This means recognizing there are only two sexes: male and female. It means getting government out of the way of what the Lord established from the beginning when He created man in His own image.”
Turner also emphasized that this move is just the beginning of broader changes at HUD. “We are going to take inventory of HUD’s programs and ensure every dollar that goes out the door is advancing HUD’s mission: to provide quality, affordable homes for communities across the country—urban, rural, and tribal—and promote economic investment to build stronger communities and a brighter future for all Americans.”
Since returning to office, Trump has signed multiple executive orders targeting LGBTQ+ rights, particularly the transgender community. These include banning transgender individuals from serving in the military, barring trans women from participating in women’s sports, and restricting gender-affirming healthcare for those under 19. Additionally, he has issued orders eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion programs across the government and military.