16 attorneys general sue HUD over fair housing guidance

"HUD's attempt to coerce Plaintiffs to abandon their fair housing protections conflicts with the [Fair Housing Act], violates HUD's own regulations, and reverses decades of practice. The case was filed Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The attorneys general allege the guidance violates the Administrative Procedure Act and the U.S. Constitution, and they are asking the court to block its implementation."

"According to the lawsuit, the guidance threatens to decertify these agencies—cutting off complaint referrals and federal funding—unless they adopt a narrower interpretation of the Fair Housing Act. State officials argue the directive would make it harder to hold landlords accountable for discriminatory practices."

"As Secretary, I will continue enforcing the Fair Housing Act as written and intended. That is to ensure equal rights under the law, not extra rights for politically favored groups."

A coalition of 16 state attorneys general filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, challenging guidance issued in September to Fair Housing Assistance Program agencies. The states argue HUD is coercing them to adopt narrower interpretations of the Fair Housing Act by threatening decertification, loss of complaint referrals, and federal funding cuts. The lawsuit contends this directive weakens housing discrimination protections and makes it harder to hold landlords accountable. The plaintiffs claim the guidance violates the Administrative Procedure Act, HUD's own regulations, and constitutional limits. HUD Secretary Scott Turner responded by defending the guidance as proper enforcement of the Fair Housing Act as written.

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