HUD Secretary Carson clashes with Dem rep over withheld Puerto Rico funds: 'Nothing to hide'

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Fox News

Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson clashed Tuesday with Rep. Nydia Velazquez, D-N.Y., as a hearing on the Trump administration's housing plans turned to the subject of disaster relief funds for Puerto Rico.

The dispute centered on HUD missing a deadline to give Puerto Rico instructions on how to apply for $8.3 billion in aid to prevent damage from future natural disasters. A bill signed by President Trump in June gave HUD a 90-day deadline to provide those rules, Newsweek reported. Ten jurisdictions included in the bill got the directions they needed, with Puerto Rico being the only one left out.

Carson was grilled by the congresswoman on the apparent decision to withhold funding over concerns about the government's management.

“Last week, your chief financial officer and your principal deputy assistant secretary for community planning and development admitted before Congress that HUD intentionally missed a legally required deadline that would have made congressionally appropriated funds available to Puerto Rico," Velazquez told Carson. "Let me ask you, where specifically in federal law is HUD empowered to unilaterally withhold ... funds that have been appropriated by Congress?”

“Congress has specifically mandated that the Secretary of HUD make sure that funds that are allocated or provided for certain jurisdictions have the resources and the capacity to manage them," Carson responded.

Velazquez then cut off Carson and told him he was not answering her question before asking it again. Carson attempted to speak but Velazquez interrupted him another time.

“Reclaiming my time," she said, "since you are not going to answer my question.”

“Seemed like an answer to me,” Carson shot back. “Are you looking for an answer or a soundbite?”