Trump Nominates Matt Jones to Lead FHA and HUD Assistant Secretary Role

President Donald Trump has nominated Matt Jones to serve as Federal Housing Administration commissioner and Department of Housing and Urban Development assistant secretary. The nomination was sent to the Senate on September 14, 2026, and announced publicly on September 15, 2026, filling a vacancy left after Frank Cassidy stepped down in June 2026 to return to the private sector.

Who is Matt Jones?

Matt Jones currently serves as HUD’s deputy assistant secretary for single-family housing. His professional background includes working as associate vice president of government housing finance at the Mortgage Bankers Association, senior adviser for capital markets at Amerifirst Home Mortgage, and senior counsel for the Senate's finance and banking, housing and urban affairs committees. He has also held positions at Aegis Title Partners, Union Home Mortgage, and as a managing member of Emeritus Capital LLC.

What is the current status of the nomination?

The Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs held a confirmation hearing for Matt Jones on Thursday morning, October 1, 2026, following the nomination's referral to the committee. It remains unclear when Jones will receive a full committee vote or a final Senate confirmation vote. During the interim period following Cassidy's departure, Ginnie Mae President Joseph Gormley has served on an interim basis as assistant secretary and FHA commissioner.

How has the housing industry responded?

Major housing trade groups voiced strong support for Matt Jones, praising his background and pushing for swift confirmation.

• Bob Broeksmit, president and CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association, stated that Jones brings hands-on experience and a strong understanding of government housing finance to help streamline lending programs and cut red tape.
• Shannon McGahn, executive vice president and chief advocacy officer for the National Association of Realtors, stated that Jones has demonstrated a commitment to strengthening the housing market and increasing affordability.
• Community Home Lenders of America released a letter highlighting Jones's balance between expanding sustainable homeownership and protecting taxpayers through prudent risk management.

What challenges and policy shifts await the next commissioner?

The FHA manages about $2 trillion in insured mortgages and helps more than 3,000 families buy homes each business day. At the end of 2025, FHA’s Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund held $188.9 billion in capital—a $16.1 billion increase from fiscal year 2024—with more than $100 billion of that total consisting of cash or cash-equivalents. This strong capital position has generated industry pressure for reduced mortgage insurance premiums.

Policy shifts under HUD Secretary Scott Turner have included ending COVID-19-era loss mitigation waterfalls in April 2025, rescinding a 2024 construction loan energy code rule in April 2026, updating environmental review requirements in May 2026, and rolling out 14 single-family program changes in June 2026. Lenders are also preparing for the implementation of VantageScore 4.0 and FICO 10T credit score models in January 2027.

Why is the confirmation process facing criticism?

The scheduling of the nomination hearing drew sharp pushback from congressional Democrats. Sen. Elizabeth Warren criticized the decision to hold the hearing during a Senate recess, calling it irresponsible to waive senior officials through the process without giving every senator an opportunity to ask questions. Warren also raised separate objections regarding FHFA Director Bill Pulte and actions concerning the Inspector General budget.