MBA Urges Senate Approval of Appleton as HUD Assistant Secretary

In a July 13 letter to Senate leaders, the Mortgage Bankers Association asked for quick approval of Seth Appleton to serve as HUD Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research.

The Trump Administration nominated Appleton in January. He joined HUD in 2017 as acting assistant secretary and general deputy assistant secretary for congressional and intergovernmental relations. Previously, he served as chief of staff for Rep. Blake Luetkemeyer, R-Mo., and also worked for Rep. Sam Graves, R-Mo.

The HUD Office of Policy Development and Research is a research, survey, study and analysis support system for HUD that assists in oversight Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac housing mortgage loan enterprises.

MBA President and CEO David Stevens, CMB, said Appleton has a deep understanding of technology issues and logistical challenges facing HUD.

“Over the course of his tenure as a staffer on Capitol Hill, Mr. Appleton developed a substantial working knowledge of housing policy and he was instrumental in the development of the bipartisan Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act, which received unanimous votes in both the House and Senate in 2016,” Stevens said. “More recently, Mr. Appleton has served as acting assistant secretary and general deputy assistant secretary in HUD’s Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Relations. In this role, he has gained a deep understanding of the challenges facing HUD, as well as the critical role the department plays in helping millions of American families.”

Stevens said HUD would benefit from Appleton’s experience and expertise and urged a swift approval process for his nomination.