Carson to ramp up public profile

Associated Press

WASHINGTON

Ben Carson was one of the biggest names to join Donald Trump’s Cabinet, but since taking office as housing secretary, Carson has mostly kept a low public profile. That could change starting this week.

Carson is beginning a series of appearances in Washington, giving him an opportunity to spell out a vision for the housing agency he leads.

Today, Carson will headline a homeownership conference at his agency, the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Next week, he heads to Capitol Hill to testify before House and Senate panels about deep cuts planned for HUD in Trump’s proposed budget.

It’s a shift in visibility for the renowned neurosurgeon and former Republican presidential candidate.

Since taking the helm of HUD in March, Carson, 65, has visited a handful of cities as part of a national “listening tour” to talk to HUD employees, housing officials and public housing residents.

He’s also had appearances at some housing conferences – most of it with little or no advance notice to the media. So far, he has not shared publicly his policy agenda for the department.

HUD spokesman Raffi Williams says Carson is no longer a candidate running for political office and has been busy leading a $40 billion federal agency that has more than 8,000 employees.

“He’s focused on governing and crafting policies that advance HUD’s mission of creating strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all Americans,” said Williams.

Diane Yentel, president and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, says she wants to see Carson focus on programs with proven results – such as the Housing Trust Fund, which the Trump budget would eliminate, or Section 8 housing vouchers.