HUD Secretary Scott Turner says housing affordability is a top White House priority; 50-year mortgage idea needs more study

Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner said the White House is treating housing affordability as a top priority for 2026 and that senior advisers will present a slate of proposals for President Trump to consider.

Turner, appearing on a televised interview, said senior officials including economic adviser Kevin Hassett ‘‘will be, meeting, together in Florida to talk about some housing affordability ideas.’’ He said HUD and the administration will offer options to the president but stopped short of endorsing any specific plan.

Why it matters: Turner described a range of approaches under consideration — from housing supply measures and regulatory rollbacks to potential mortgage-product changes — and signaled caution about untested ideas. ‘‘The 50 year mortgage and other ideas that have been circulated...are being discussed, are on the table,’’ Turner said, but added that ‘‘more research needs to be done’’ before such long-term loan products could be recommended for taxpayer-backed programs.

Turner made several assertions framing the administration’s rationale. He said that during the prior administration ‘‘weak immigration policies...millions, tens of millions of illegal immigrants came across our borders unchecked, and that caused the housing supply to go down and the cost to go up.’’ The interviewer did not challenge that account during the segment.

On federal mortgage programs, Turner said, ‘‘I know at HUD, this year alone, we have helped over 1000000 first time homebuyers through our FHA and Ginnie Mae, programs at HUD,’’ and encouraged potential buyers to explore FHA and Ginnie Mae options. He emphasized HUD’s interest in preserving stability for FHA- and Ginnie Mae-backed loans, saying any proposal must keep those taxpayer‑backed programs ‘‘stable and secure for the American people.’’

Turner also cited a regulatory action taken at HUD: ‘‘one of the first acts we had at HUD was taken down the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Rule to restore local control,’’ presenting deregulatory steps as part of the administration’s effort to reduce barriers to housing supply.

What wasn’t decided: The interview included no formal proposals, legislative text, or implementation timelines. Turner repeatedly framed ideas as options to be discussed with the president, and he said realistic assessment and research would guide any decision, particularly for proposals that could affect FHA and Ginnie Mae portfolios.

Next steps: Turner said administration leaders will meet to refine proposals and present them to the president. No rule changes, loan products, or executive actions were announced during the interview.