President-elect Donald Trump chose Scott Turner, a former NFL player and former Trump White House aide, to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the first Black American selected to join his cabinet.
“Scott will work alongside me to Make America Great for Every American,” Trump announced in a press release Friday.
Turner, 52, formerly served as an aide during Trump’s first term. As executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council, Turner helped lead “an unprecedented effort that transformed our country’s most distressed communities,” Trump stated.
It’s unclear exactly how Turner’s former role transformed marginalized communities, though Trump noted his leadership oversaw the dispursement of $50 billion into “Opportunity Zones“, or economically distressed communities.
Meanwhile, Scott Turner does appear to have more relevant experience for the Department of HUD than Trump’s first term pick Ben Carson, a renowned neurosurgeon who faced criticism for spending funds to redecorate his office.
The Department is tasked with overseeing fair and affordable housing in the U.S. Currently, it supports more than 4.3 million low-income families through public housing, rental subsidies and voucher programs. On the campaign trail, Trump has touted mass crackdowns on undocumented immigrants as a way to free up more housing. He also pledged to reduce regulations on home construction.
In a stark contrast from his former presidential opponent, Kamala Harris promised to provide $25,000 in down-payment assistance for first-time home buyers. Meanwhile, Trump has vowed to open up federal lands for home construction.
Scott Turner’s rise to politics
Growing up in the Dallas suburb of Richardson, Scott Turner eventually moved on to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Beginning in 1995, he was a defensive back in the NFL for nine seasons, playing for Washington, San Diego and Denver. While he never gained fame on the field, he eventually transitioned to politics.
During off-seasons at the San Diego Chargers, he interned for a California Republican before making his own unsuccessful bid for California’s 50th Congressional District in 2006, according to the Associated Press.
By 2013, Scott Turner had moved to Texas, successfully entering the Texas House in 2013. He rode a wave of support from the Tea Party, a conservative, anti-goverment movement that formed in 2009 following the election of the first Black President Barack Obama. Notably, the NAACP condemned racism within the Tea Party movement.
In addition to his political background, Scott Turner also runs a foundation with his wife to promote childhood literacy. Prestonwood Baptist Church lists him as an associate pastor. Notably, he also chairs the Center for Education Opportunity at America First Policy Institute, a think tank ran by Trump loyalists preparing for his second term.
Ultimately, Turner and Trump’s other nominees must first be confirmed by Congress before serving in his cabinet. Trump has already had to withdraw one pick, former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), as his pick for attorney general over ethics concerns regarding alleged sexual encounters with underaged girls.
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