Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner defended the Trump administration’s push to eliminate regulatory barriers Monday, arguing that reducing government restrictions is essential to making homes more affordable for American families.

“America cannot regulate its way to housing affordability, which is why the Trump Administration is clearing barriers to enable builders to build, buyers to buy, and ensure local communities have a voice,” Turner said in a statement.

He added that the administration is targeting excessive regulation, high construction costs, and restrictions on new housing development to expand the supply of homes and make homeownership more attainable.

Turner has argued that regulatory requirements can add more than $100,000 to the cost of constructing a new single-family home. Speaking at a HousingWire event, he pointed to HUD’s decision to revoke a Biden-era energy code rule affecting new construction backed by the Federal Housing Administration and the Agriculture Department, contending that the requirement made homes more expensive to build.

The move followed President Donald Trump’s March executive order, “Removing Regulatory Barriers to Affordable Home Construction,” which directed federal agencies to identify and eliminate rules that constrain housing development.

In May, HUD released a report recommending that state and local governments reduce permitting delays and fees while making more land available for development. Turner urged local officials to reconsider requirements that drive up construction costs and slow the approval of new homes.

HUD has also ended the Obama-era Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule and moved to combine Opportunity Zone tax incentives with single-family home construction, according to the department. The changes reflect a broader effort to shift housing policy toward expanding development and reducing regulatory burdens.

“[We want] to empower builders by getting out of their way,” Turner said at a HUD housing showcase last month.

However, the administration’s efforts come as homebuilders remain pessimistic about market conditions. The National Association of Home Builders and Wells Fargo Housing Market Index fell three points to 29 in October, its lowest reading since June 2012. Mortgage rates above 7% and rising construction costs continue to weigh on the industry.

The weak confidence reading highlights the challenges facing policymakers seeking to expand the housing supply. Even if regulatory changes reduce construction expenses, elevated borrowing costs and other development costs can still make homes difficult for buyers to afford.

Turner, a former NFL cornerback and Texas state lawmaker, was confirmed as HUD secretary in February 2025. During his confirmation hearing, he argued that the department was “failing at its most basic mission” and pledged to reduce regulations and bring down housing costs.

The administration’s strategy centers on the argument that increasing the supply of homes requires fewer obstacles for builders, rather than additional layers of regulation. Whether those changes will translate into substantially lower prices for buyers remains a key test as high mortgage rates and construction expenses continue to pressure the housing market.