Warnock Statement on Reporting that Trump Admin Let Millions in Rural Housing Development Dollars Expire

According to reporting by POLITICO, the Trump Administration refused to spend around $232 million in federal funding meant to help low-income families in rural communities

The funding officially expired last week

The funding was allocated by Congress to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Single Family Housing Direct Home Loans Program

In Georgia, rural communities received over $14 million less in mortgage assistance compared to the prior years' average, a 68% decrease

Senator Reverend Warnock: "Time and time again the Trump administration shows its true colors. By denying money to Georgians who need it, the President demonstrates that he doesn't care about rural and low-income families."

Washington, D.C. - Today, Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) released the following statement after new reporting by POLITICO found that the Trump administration threw away more than $230 million in federal funding Congress already allocated to help low-income families in rural communities.

"Time and time again, the Trump administration shows its true colors. By denying money to Georgians who need it, the President demonstrates that he doesn't care about rural and low-income families, rising housing costs, and the affordability crisis plaguing this country," Senator Reverend Warnock said. "Housing provides dignity and security, particularly in rural communities. When this administration fails to do its job, it is hardworking Georgians in rural communities across our state who pay the price."

Congress allocated the funding to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Single Family Housing Direct Home Loans Program. As of today, USDA has only used $518 million of the $1 billion in available funding for the program.

About $250 million of the unspent money will carry over to the next fiscal year, but roughly $232 million expired last week with the end of the fiscal year, preventing hundreds of families across Georgia and the country from getting the assistance they need. Each year, the program finances roughly 5,500 mortgages. The $230 million in funding could have helped approximately 850 rural households achieve homeownership across the country.

This fiscal year, Georgians only received $6.9 million in single-family housing direct home loans, a $14 million, or 68%, decrease from prior years' average, according to data provided by Senator Patty Murray's (D-WA) office.

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