Senate Confirms Julia Gordon as FHA Commissioner
(Julia Gordon)
It took nearly a year, and by the slimmest of margins, the Senate late Wednesday finally confirmed Julia Gordon, as FHA Commissioner.
By a 51-50 vote—with Vice President Kamala Harris breaking the tie—Gordon squeezed past the Senate to lead an agency that insures more than $1.2 trillion in single-family forward and reverse mortgages. She will be the first confirmed FHA commissioner since January 2021.
Mortgage Bankers Association President & CEO Bob Broeksmit, CMB, issued a statement following yesterday’s Senate vote:
“MBA congratulates Julia Gordon on being confirmed to lead the Federal Housing Administration,” Broeksmit said. “Her knowledge and experience in housing policy and community development will serve her well as she leads FHA’s mission to support homeownership opportunities for low- and moderate-income and minority borrowers in underserved communities, as well as increasing affordable rental housing.
“We look forward to working with Assistant Secretary Gordon, HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge, and other stakeholders to ensure a resilient FHA program that works for lenders and borrowers and provides more affordable housing opportunities for our nation’s homeowners and renters, while protecting taxpayers.”
It wasn’t an easy journey for Gordon. President Joseph Biden Jr. nominated her in June 2021, but she did not get a hearing in the Senate Banking Committee until late fall of that year. In January, the Banking Committee deadlocked on her nomination; however, the 12-12 vote enabled Banking Committee Chairman Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, to forward Gordon’s nomination to the full Senate.
Earlier this year, the Senate deadlocked (50-50) on a motion to “discharge” Gordon’s nomination from the Banking Committee, with Harris breaking the tie to move the nomination forward. Yesterday’s vote was identical, with every Republican opposing Gordon’s nomination.
MBA and nearly three dozen industry trade groups sent a letter to Senate leadership in support of Gordon. “We believe Ms. Gordon is highly qualified for this important position,” the letter said.
Gordon served previously as president of the National Community Stabilization Trust, a nonprofit organization that supports neighborhood revitalization and affordable homeownership through rehabilitation of residential properties in underserved markets. In addition to managing NCST’s programmatic work, she specializes in federal policy related to homeownership, community development and the nation’s housing finance system.
