HUD poised to end Obama's illegal Section 8 housing grant scheme

[Geee]

Washington Examiner

The Department of Housing and Urban Development is poised to reverse the Obama administration's policy and return to a competitive bidding process to award Section 8 housing, according to a well-placed source in the department.

The move would overturn the Obama-era methodology of using a grant-style process that was rebuked by administrators and ultimately the U.S. Supreme Court.

The HUD official said many of the steps necessary to change back to the competitive procurement method are being taken now, but didn't want to comment on when the announcement from the department might happen for fear of tainting the bidding process.
Supporters of the competitive bidding procurement process say the net result will increase efficiency in the program and save taxpayer money. And Republican lawmakers that have been critical of HUD's actions in the past are applauding the change in course as well.
"When dealing with performance-based Section 8 contract administrators, it's clear that full and open competition is the way to get the best value for the taxpayer," said Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla. "As Chairman of the Housing Appropriations Subcommittee, I have repeatedly insisted both publicly and privately that HUD follow Congressional intent, the GAO, and the Supreme Court.