Press Releases

Today, the House Financial Services Committee is holding an Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing, led by Subcommittee Chairman Dan Meuser (PA-09), to examine the waste, fraud, and mismanagement within the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Read Subcommittee Chairman Meuser’s opening remarks as prepared for delivery:

"Today’s hearing is entitled, 'Decades of Dysfunction: Restoring Accountability at HUD.'

"I would like to thank the Acting Inspector General for being here today to discuss persistent waste, fraud, and mismanagement at the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

"For decades, HUD’s IG has investigated, uncovered, and  highlighted severe deficiencies plaguing the agency. HUD’s core mission is to provide safe and affordable housing, something we all support on this Subcommittee.

"However, HUD continues to waste taxpayer funds while failing to meet its most basic responsibilities and has little to no mechanisms to track and report these issues.

"Year after year HUD’s appropriations are squandered, mismanaged, or lost through fraud and improper payments. In 2017, $1.7 billion was lost through improper payments, and there’s no evidence to suggest anything has improved.

"Accountability is in short supply, and a lack of transparency has eroded public trust. Yet, HUD’s spending increased from $45.4 billion to $78.4 billion from 2021 to 2024.

"Unfortunately, HUD’s failures extend beyond the risks of fraud and its inability to track or report improper payments.

"The agency relies on outdated IT systems, some designed and built in the 1970s, and in turn lacks the data collection processes required for effective oversight.

"When I served as Revenue Secretary in Pennsylvania, we modernized our IT systems — and the improvements in tax revenue were so significant, people asked what we were doing differently. It wasn’t magic — it was better data, better oversight, and better decision-making.

"While HUD faces many challenges, its minimal oversight of programs and grantees also raises serious concerns.

"Requiring grantees to have a fraud prevention plan as part of the grant application, along with enforcing enhanced data sharing across HUD programs would be beneficial steps toward achieving a more efficient and accountable HUD.

"Public Housing Authorities, under the supervision of HUD, have operated unchecked and without consequence. Many routinely fail to meet basic HUD quality standards, with no commitment to improving operations. Requiring PHAs to timely and accurately report overpayments should be a condition of their funding.

"Republicans want HUD to provide the most effective housing for Americans as possible – fraud and overpayments take valuable dollars away from that mission.

"One thing is very clear: HUD cannot continue on its current path. Things must change.

"That’s why, I sent a letter to GAO asking for a report on HUD’s improper payments and fraud risk management structure.

"I believe that with President’s Trump DOGE, proper Congressional oversight, and Secretary Turner at the helm, a new day at HUD is soon approaching."