The House of Representatives held a routine markup of the proposed spending bill for FY2027. This is an important part of the budgeting process where critical amendments are added to the budget in the relevant subcommittee. The House Appropriations Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Subcommittee has finished its writeup, allocating $71.38 billion, a $5.94 billion, or over 8%, decrease from the $77.3 billion provided for HUD programs in FY26.
Democrats criticized the new budget, arguing it cut too much from affordable housing. “This bill proposes to slash critical assistance that helps families keep a roof over their heads,” said Ranking Member DeLauro (D-CT). “By slashing funding for public housing by $1.3 billion, this bill will cause cuts to rent and utility payments to some 2,700 housing agencies from across the country. It will put hundreds of thousands of low-income households at risk of eviction.”
In spite of these comments, the vote went along partisan lines, passing 34-27, but not without a couple of changes. An amendment proposed by Congressman Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) instructed HUD to continue its practice of allowing mixed-status families to reside together in assisted housing. This was in response to pressure from the White House to change the department’s working interpretation of the “Housing and Community Development Act of 1980: Verification of Eligible Status”.
Other passed amendments included a feasibility study for the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program and a withholding of funds from local jurisdictions that refused to inform DHS when they released undocumented immigrants from custody.
The bill is now making its way to the House floor, where it will be further amended, before it is eventually merged with the Senate version.