Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for Housing


The assistant secretary for housing, who also carries the title Federal Housing Commissioner, is a position within the United States [Department of Housing and Urban Development]. The assistant secretary is responsible for overseeing the $1.75+ trillion Federal Housing Administration mortgage insurance portfolio and the Department of Housing and Urban Development's regulatory responsibilities in the area of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, the housing mission of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and the manufactured housing industry.

Role

The federal housing commissioner is appointed by the president and confirmed by the United States Senate. The assistant secretary is third in the order of succession for the office of Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. The assistant secretary is paid at level IV of the Executive Schedule, receiving an annual salary depending on certain factors. The position was previously held by Julia Gordon.
In August 2025, President Donald J. Trump nominated Frank Cassidy to serve as Assistant Secretary of Housing and Federal Housing Commissioner. The nomination was referred to the United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs for consideration and a hearing was scheduled for October 30, 2025. Frank Cassidy was confirmed by the U.S Senate in December 2025.

Assistant secretaries of housing and urban development for housing

At the founding of the Department of Housing and Urban Development in 1965, one assistant secretary role was specifically designated to perform the functions of the existing role of Federal Housing Commissioner. HUD Secretary George W. Romney split the role between two new titles, Assistant Secretary for Housing Production and Mortgage Credit, combining the GHA commissioner role, and a separate Assistant Secretary for Housing Management. Finally, on June 16, 1976, HUD Secretary Carla Hills merged the two roles into one single Assistant Secretary for Housing & Federal Housing Commissioner role, which remains the title today.
Federal Housing Commissioner
ImageNameTerm beganTerm endedPresident
James A. Moffett19341935
Stewart McDonald19351940
Abner H. Ferguson19401945
Raymond M. Foley19451947Harry S. Truman
Franklin D. Richards19471952Harry S. Truman
Walter L. Greene19521953
Guy T. O. Hollyday19531954
Norman P. Mason19541959Dwight D. Eisenhower
Julian H. Zimmerman19591960
Norman P. Mason 19601961
Neal J. Hardy19611963
Phillip N. Brownstein19631969

Assistant Secretary – Federal Housing Commissioner
ImageNameTerm beganTerm endedPresident(s)
Philip N. Brownstein'Lyndon B. Johnson
Eugene M. GulledgeRichard M. Nixon

Incumbent FHA Commissioner at founding of Department of Housing and Urban Development
Assistant Secretary of Housing Production and Mortgage Credit – Federal Housing Commissioner
ImageNameTerm beganTerm endedPresident(s) served under
Eugene M. GulledgeRichard M. Nixon
Woodward Kingman Richard M. Nixon
Sheldon B. LubarRichard M. Nixon
Sheldon B. LubarGerald R. Ford
David M. DeWilde Gerald R. Ford
David S. CookGerald R. Ford

Assistant Secretary of Housing Management
ImageNameTerm beganTerm endedPresident(s) served under
Lawrence M. CoxRichard M. Nixon
Norman V. WatsonRichard M. Nixon
Abner Silverman Richard M. Nixon
H.R. CrawfordRichard M. Nixon
H.R. CrawfordGerald R. Ford
Robert C. Odle Jr. Gerald R. Ford
James L. YoungGerald R. Ford

Assistant Secretary of Housing – Federal Housing Commissioner'''
ImageNameTerm beganTerm endedPresident(s) served under
James L. YoungGerald R. Ford
John T. Howley Gerald R. Ford
John T. Howley Jimmy Carter
Lawrence B. SimonsJimmy Carter
Philip D. WinnRonald Reagan
Philip AbramsRonald Reagan
Maurice Lee BarksdaleRonald Reagan
Thomas DemeryRonald Reagan
Catherine Austin FittsGeorge H. W. Bush
Arthur J. HillGeorge H. W. Bush
Nicolas P. RetsinasBill Clinton
William C. ApgarBill Clinton
John C. WeicherGeorge W. Bush
Brian D. MontgomeryGeorge W. Bush
Brian D. MontgomeryBarack Obama
David H. StevensBarack Obama
Carol GalanteBarack Obama
Carol GalanteBarack Obama
Biniam GebreBarack Obama
Ed GoldingBarack Obama
Dana T. WadeDonald Trump
Brian D. MontgomeryDonald Trump
Dana T. WadeDonald Trump
Janet M. GolrickJoe Biden
Julia GordonJoe Biden

Previous Federal Housing Commissioners include Carol Galante, who served as Acting Federal Housing Commissioner from July 2011 until she was confirmed by the Senate in December 2012. She served as Federal Housing Commissioner until October 2014, when she stepped down to take a faculty position at the University of California at Berkeley. Before her, Brian D. Montgomery, who was confirmed in February 2005 served as Federal Housing Commissioner. The previous Federal Housing Commissioner was John C. Weicher.