“We have talked at length about my urban renewal agenda and our message of economic revival, very much including our inner cities.”

Carson's supporters have said that he would indeed be a good leader of the agency as he has a strong interest in building up inner cities. HUD, with a $47 billion budget, is one of the primary agencies that focuses on alleviating poverty with its support for affordable housing.

Critics, though, wonder about Carson's experience, or lack thereof, in running a federal agency — a point Carson himself raised when the rumor mill had it that he was being considered for Secretary of Health and Human Services.

There are also fears that Carson may not be a strong advocate for affordable housing based on previously-stated views. That, at least, is the view of the National Low-Income Housing Coalition reading between the lines of their response to the news.

It's official. Let's get to work. https://t.co/7QwaUZGVKj https://t.co/4Tt9V3IAze

— NLIHC (@NLIHC) December 5, 2016

WASHINGTON, DC–President-elect Trump is nominating former Republican rival on the campaign trail Ben Carson to be Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. His appointment must be confirmed by the Senate.

The news is not a surprise. Before Thanksgiving, Trump had been publicly musing, via his Twitter account, that the retired neurosurgeon would be a good fit for the housing agency.

On Monday when announcing the decision, Trump said that “Ben Carson has a brilliant mind and is passionate about strengthening communities and families within those communities.”

“We have talked at length about my urban renewal agenda and our message of economic revival, very much including our inner cities.”

Carson's supporters have said that he would indeed be a good leader of the agency as he has a strong interest in building up inner cities. HUD, with a $47 billion budget, is one of the primary agencies that focuses on alleviating poverty with its support for affordable housing.

Critics, though, wonder about Carson's experience, or lack thereof, in running a federal agency — a point Carson himself raised when the rumor mill had it that he was being considered for Secretary of Health and Human Services.

There are also fears that Carson may not be a strong advocate for affordable housing based on previously-stated views. That, at least, is the view of the National Low-Income Housing Coalition reading between the lines of their response to the news.

It's official. Let's get to work. https://t.co/7QwaUZGVKj https://t.co/4Tt9V3IAze

— NLIHC (@NLIHC) December 5, 2016