New U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner’s first order was to halt pending or future enforcement of a 2016 HUD rule entitled “Equal Access in Accordance With an Individual’s Gender Identity in Community Planning and Development Programs.” The rule ensured equal access for individuals in accordance with their gender identity in programs and shelters funded under programs administered by HUD's Office of Community Planning and Development (CPD).

According to Turner, the rule “in essence, tied housing programs, shelters and other facilities funded by HUD to far-left gender ideology.”

“We, at this agency, are carrying out the mission laid out by President Trump on Jan. 20 when he signed an executive order to restore biological truth to the federal government. This means recognizing there are only two sexes: male and female. It means getting government out of the way of what the Lord established from the beginning when he created man in His own image,” Turner said.

“Moreover, this is just the first of many examples of how, starting on day one, HUD is going back to work for the American people and being a good steward of taxpayer dollars. There will be more where this came from,” he said. “As I have said before, we are going to take inventory of HUD’s programs and ensure every dollar that goes out the door is advancing HUD’s mission, which is to provide quality, affordable homes for communities across the country – urban, rural and tribal –and promote economic investment to build stronger communities and a brighter future for all Americans.”

According to the 2016 rule posted in the Federal Register, “this rule builds upon HUD's February 2012 final rule entitled ‘Equal Access to Housing in HUD Programs Regardless of Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity’ (2012 Equal Access Rule), which aimed to ensure that HUD's housing programs would be open to all eligible individuals and families regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status.

“HUD determined that the 2012 Equal Access Rule did not adequately address the significant barriers faced by transgender and gender nonconforming persons when accessing temporary, emergency shelters and other facilities with physical limitations or configurations that require and are permitted to have shared sleeping quarters or bathing facilities. Specifically, HUD found that transgender and gender nonconforming persons continue to experience significant violence, harassment, and discrimination in attempting to access programs, benefits, services, and accommodations.”