Warren Statement on Trump Nominees for HUD, Treasury, EXIM, and Commerce
“What the American people need as Trump’s economic policies hit are officials who will not just rubber stamp the President’s agenda. But I’m concerned that today’s nominees will make things worse.”
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, gave opening remarks at a nomination hearing for five Trump Administration nominees: Ben DeMarzo, to be Assistant Secretary, Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); Craig Trainor, to be Assistant Secretary, HUD; John Jovanovic, to be Chairman, Export-Import Bank; Francis Brooke, to be Assistant Secretary, Department of the Treasury; and David Peters, to be Assistant Secretary, Department of Commerce.
Below is Ranking Member Warren’s opening statement:
Senator Warren: President Trump campaigned on bringing down costs for American families – and right now, that is a big, fat, broken promise that is hanging over Americans’ heads. What the American people need as Trump’s economic policies hit are officials who will not just rubber stamp the President’s agenda. But I’m concerned that today’s nominees will make things worse.
Mr. Trainor would be responsible for enforcing the nation’s housing anti-discrimination laws. But he has denied the existence of discrimination in housing, refused to acknowledge that sexual orientation is a protected class in housing, is currently upending civil rights enforcement at the Department of Education, where he is being sued by the NAACP and other civil rights groups. I have no faith in Mr. Trainor’s ability to fulfill the fair housing office’s mission to eliminate housing discrimination. This will make high housing costs bite even worse.
Mr. DeMarzo wants to become Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs. However, HUD continues to subvert Congressional inquiries. I appreciate that DeMarzo has committed to providing timely responses, but I can’t give him a green light while the Trump administration flagrantly ignores Congress and the law.
Mr. Brooke is auditioning to be a zealous implementor of the President’s disastrous trade agenda. If confirmed, he will pursue the same policies that are squeezing middle class families and raising the cost of housing, while turning a blind eye as the President gives handouts to his donors and billionaire friends.
Mr. Peters would be responsible for enforcing our export controls – a key national security tool that keeps critical technologies out of the hands of our adversaries. But he is woefully unprepared for this role. During his hearing, he couldn’t even answer a basic question about whether we need robust safeguards to prevent the U.A.E. and other countries from simply taking our advanced chips and passing them along to China.
Finally, I believe Mr. Jovanovic supports the mission of EXIM Bank. If he is confirmed, I hope he will follow through on his commitments to provide transparency in the Bank’s management and continue monitoring the environmental and social impacts from projects. However, I cannot support his nomination while the President’s chaotic tariff war continues to damage our relationships with trade partners around the world and drive up the cost of living for American families.
I will be voting no on these five nominees.
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