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Benjamin Solomon Carson Sr.
Former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
HUD Secretary 2017-2021, Retired Neurosurgeon
Overview
Ben Carson served as HUD Secretary under Trump despite having no housing policy experience. A renowned neurosurgeon, he spent $31,000 on a dining set for his office, attempted to cut housing assistance, and largely dismantled fair housing enforcement.
Key Affiliations
Controversies & Concerns
$31,000 dining set purchased for office
No housing policy experience
Attempted to raise rents on poor families
Called poverty"a state of mind"
Proposed cuts to housing assistance
Rolled back fair housing enforcement
Compared slaves to immigrants seeking better life
Related Investigations (1)
Criminal Charges & Violations
6 documented violations
31 U.S.C. § 1341 (Antideficiency Act)Violation of Spending Limits; HUD IG found office spent $31,000 on dining furniture exceeding $5,000 statutory limit without proper authorization(Federal Spending)
5 C.F.R. § 2635.702Potential Use of Office for Private Gain; Son assisted with official HUD business trip and was promoted at department contractor(Potential Ethics)
42 U.S.C. § 3608 (Fair Housing Act)Failure to Affirmatively Further Fair Housing; Suspended Obama-era AFFH rule requiring localities to address segregation(Civil Rights)
42 U.S.C. § 3604Fair Housing Act Enforcement Failures; Weakened enforcement of housing discrimination complaints during tenure(Civil Rights)
42 U.S.C. § 1437f (Section 8)Policy Violations; Proposed increased rent burdens on poorest tenants, partially blocked by Congress(Housing Policy)
5 U.S.C. § 3110 (Anti-Nepotism)Potential Nepotism Concerns; Son reportedly involved in HUD matters and events while working for department contractor(Potential Ethics)
Known Associates & Connections
Donald Trump
Cabinet member, 2016 rival turned supporter
Jeffrey Epstein
Named in discussions of Trump cabinet connections to Epstein case
Pete Hegseth
Fellow Trump cabinet member
Sources & Documentation
1 documented sources from official records, investigations, and reports
Personal Information
- Born
- September 18, 1951
- Birthplace
- Detroit, Michigan
- Also Known As
- Dr. Ben Carson
Education
- •University of Michigan Medical School (M.D.)
- •Yale University (B.A. Psychology)
Key Timeline
2017
March: Confirmed as HUD Secretary
2018
$31,000 dining set scandal
2020
Contracts COVID-19
2021
January: Leaves office