573 Civil Rights Groups Urge Carson To Keep Anti-Discrimination Language In HUD Mission Statement

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573 Civil Rights Groups Urge Ben Carson To Keep Anti-Discrimination Language In HUD Mission Statement

Carson has proposed changing the department’s mission statement to better reflect the Trump administration’s priorities.

By Amanda Terkel

Nearly 600 civil rights groups wrote to Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson on Friday, asking that he reconsider his proposal to remove anti-discrimination language from the agency’s mission statement.

“We urge you in the strongest possible terms to reverse course and retain language in your agency’s mission statement that reflects one of HUD’s most important responsibilities: enforcement and promotion of the Fair Housing Act,” the 573 groups wrote, noting that many of them worked with HUD to make sure that the commitment to inclusivity was included in the first place.

The Fair Housing Act protects people from discrimination when they are renting, buying or securing financing for any housing.

Carson has come under significant criticism since HuffPost first reported Wednesday that HUD was changing its mission statement. A top HUD official emailed political staff at the agency this week to inform them of the proposed change, intended to better align the mission with the priorities of President Donald Trump’s administration.

The proposed mission statement, which was developed in consultation with Carson, reads:

HUD’s mission is to ensure Americans have access to fair, affordable housing and opportunities to achieve self-sufficiency, thereby strengthening our communities and nation.

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https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/ben-carson-civil-rights-groups_us_5aa2d1afe4b01b9b0a3b2624?ncid=tweetlnkushpmg00000067