President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Scott Turner, an associate pastor at the multi-campus Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, as the secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in his forthcoming administration.
Trump announced in a statement on Friday, highlighting Turner’s previous experience as executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during the first Trump administration.
In his statement, Trump credited Turner with “helping to lead an unprecedented effort that transformed our country's most distressed communities.” He noted that Turner worked closely with former HUD Secretary Ben Carson and was key in guiding “16 Federal Agencies which implemented more than 200 policy actions furthering economic development.”
Trump also emphasized, “Under Scott's leadership, Opportunity Zones received over $50 billion in private investment!”
Turner, one of two Southern Baptists nominated by Trump this year for a cabinet position, previously played in the National Football League (NFL) for parts of seven seasons as a defensive back for the Washington Redskins and the San Diego Chargers. He also served in the Texas House of Representatives from 2013 to 2017.
Turner sits on the board of the American Cornerstone Institute, an organization founded by Ben Carson to promote the principles of faith, liberty, community, and life. Prestonwood Senior Pastor Jack Graham praised Turner as a “glorious choice” and a “great man,” expressing confidence that he “will do a tremendous job in this important responsibility.”
Carson also spoke highly of Turner, describing him as “a natural born leader, a man of God, and a truly brilliant individual,” and called his selection “phenomenal.” Carson expressed confidence in Turner’s ability to elevate the agency and deliver “great results for the American people!”
Turner founded the Community Engagement & Opportunity Council in 2021, which operates Learning Labs designed as “Christ-centered reading enhancement programs for Kindergarten through 5th grade students.” These programs encourage children to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ while teaching them Bible verses and helping them improve reading comprehension skills.
Turner is also involved with several other organizations, including the America First Policy Institute’s Center for Education Opportunity, Dallas Baptist University, and the Master Cares Foundation, which operates in Uganda to provide hope through charitable efforts beyond traditional means. The foundation constructs and operates a hospital and a Christian school serving over 900 students, along with offering vocational training in sewing, ranching, and drilling water wells.
Turner’s nomination now awaits approval from the U.S. Senate, where Republicans will hold the majority in the upcoming 119th Congress, set to begin in January. With 53 Republicans and 47 Democrats, Turner needs the support of a simple majority of 51 senators to secure confirmation.
