Federal housing officials say a recent review uncovered billions in rental aid that went to the wrong people during the Biden years. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) found that about 30,000 deceased tenants and thousands of potential noncitizens received help that may not have been valid. Much of the money went to New York, California, and Washington DC, although payments reached all 50 states.
HUD spotted the problem after comparing Treasury records with its own program data. The check showed 30,054 tenants listed as dead who were still tied to rental assistance or who received funds after they passed away. HUD says the agency’s own financial review tools surfaced the issue, and officials are now taking a closer look.
HUD Secretary Scott Turner said the findings show taxpayers lost money because strong safeguards were not in place. He said the department plans to investigate, hold bad actors accountable, and strengthen rules so assistance reaches people who truly need housing support.
In fiscal year 2024 alone, HUD delivered roughly 50 billion dollars in rental aid. The department says about 5.8 billion dollars looks questionable. Officials also say the Biden administration pushed agencies to move relief money out quickly during that period, which made proper checks more difficult.
According to HUD, rental programs rely heavily on local partners to verify eligibility. Because of this, some payments may have gone out without full review. HUD says new steps are underway to pause or cancel funds when fraud is confirmed, and criminal referrals could follow in the worst cases.
Key points from the report
- HUD says about 30,000 deceased tenants received rental aid
- Roughly 5.8 billion dollars in payments are considered questionable
- New York, California, and Washington DC received a large share of the funds
- HUD plans stronger oversight and enforcement moving forward
What happens next
Officials say the department will keep reviewing records and tightening controls. The stated goal is simple: make sure help reaches families who actually qualify, while protecting public money.
