President Joe Biden announced on Monday, March 11, that Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia Fudge will be stepping down from her position. Fudge expressed mixed emotions about her departure, citing her dedication to ensuring justice and equality for all Americans.
During her tenure, Fudge championed initiatives to remove barriers for homebuyers with student loan debt and helped millions of families avoid foreclosure. Fudge, who represented Ohio’s 11th District in Congress before joining the administration, plans to retire and return to Ohio to spend more time with her family.
Deputy Secretary Adrianne Todman will assume the role of acting secretary upon Fudge’s departure.
“As a dedicated public servant for nearly five decades, I have been devoted to improving the life for people of this nation, focusing on those with the greatest need,” Fudge said in a statement.
However, Fudge faced controversy in 2021 when she received a warning for violating the Hatch Act, which limits political activities for federal civilian executive branch employees. Fudge commented on the race to fill her seat, saying two Democrats were strong candidates but stopped short of weighing in on the House race, according to CNN.
President Biden praised Fudge’s commitment to improving housing accessibility and economic opportunity for vulnerable populations. The reason for her resignation was not explicitly stated.
