Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) sent a letter to HUD Secretary Scott Turner asking for answers about the department’s approach to fair housing enforcement, especially enforcement of protections for LGBTQ+ Americans by the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO). He requested complete responses by November 1, 2026.
According to Torres, HUD announced in 2021 that the Fair Housing Act’s ban on sex discrimination covers sexual orientation and gender identity. He says HUD retreated from that position after the administration revoked Executive Order 13988 at the start of the president’s second term. The letter cites ProPublica reporting on an Arkansas man whose complaint was reportedly no longer investigated after the change, and says whole categories of cases have reportedly received diminished priority.
Torres asks HUD to:
- account for cases removed from its backlog and how each was resolved;
- provide monthly data on sexual orientation and gender identity complaints since January 20, 2025;
- identify which categories of discrimination have been deprioritized;
- disclose whether political appointees must preapprove routine investigative work;
- report current FHEO staffing compared with January 2025, and justify any decision to decline investigating complaints.
The letter cites the Williams Institute, which found 50 percent of LGBTQ+ adults own homes compared with 70 percent of non-LGBTQ+ adults. It notes that the Fair Housing Act generally calls for investigations to be completed within 100 days.
Why it matters
The letter is a request and does not change HUD policy. Renters, buyers and housing providers may want to watch how HUD responds on complaint handling.
Source: Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY), October 22, 2026. Read the original release
