If there’s one thing Brian Montgomery has learned in his second time around at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), it is patience.
Montgomery, who had been serving as the Federal Housing Administration commissioner and acting deputy secretary of HUD for 16 months, was confirmed by the Senate as the deputy secretary May 12 by a 61-32 vote.
“During this unprecedented pandemic, he has been by my side every step of the way as we have implemented policies to protect Americans across the country,” HUD Secretary Ben Carson said in a press release.
Montgomery was originally nominated as FHA commissioner in September 2017, then re-nominated in January 2018, finally getting Senate confirmation in May, eight months after his nomination.
He took over as acting deputy secretary upon the departure of Pam Patenaude in January 2019, and was nominated for the position in October. This time, it was a seven-month wait for his final confirmation.
As deputy secretary, Montgomery will manage the day-to-day operations and advise and assist Carson in leading nearly 8,000 employees.
“We will continue to do everything possible to protect our country’s most vulnerable populations – including the homeless, the elderly, and many others with compromised health,” Montgomery said in a release. “We will provide critical support to low-income renters in public housing, seniors, people with disabilities and with AIDS, among others, including homeowners under stress at this time and those hoping to make it into a decent, safe, affordable home.
“I am proud to help lead the department and humbled to be able to offer all that I can to our endeavors, to deliver it more effectively, efficiently, and with the highest integrity on behalf of American taxpayers.”
The news was met with praise from the Mortgage Bankers Association.
“MBA applauds the Senate for confirming Brian Montgomery to be our nation’s next HUD Deputy Secretary,” MBA President and CEO Bob Broeksmit said in a statement. “Deputy Secretary Montgomery’s extensive experience in housing and at HUD will undoubtedly serve him well as he assists Secretary Carson in the development of solutions that will help address the nation’s top housing issues during the current COVID-19 crisis and beyond. As FHA commissioner, Brian made significant strides to help improve housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income homebuyers and renters alike, and we look forward to seeing him continue similar efforts as deputy secretary.”
Montgomery returned to HUD, where he served as the FHA commissioner under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, to lead FHA’s $1.4 trillion mortgage insurance portfolio, which includes its single family, multifamily and health care programs. In doing so, he became the first person to serve as FHA commissioner a second time.
As part of those responsibilities, he has overseen HUD’s Project-based Section 8 rental assistance housing program, the Office of Housing Counseling and HUD’s Manufactured Housing Program.
“As the head of FHA, Brian has helped HUD relieve the burden on renters and homeowners experiencing financial hardship, and to ensure no one loses their home as a result of this national health and economic emergency,” Carson said. “The IT modernization effort underway at FHA under his stewardship has been central to our ability to continue to serve as a source of strength to the housing market.”
In February, the White House announced plans to nominate Dana Wade to succeed Montgomery as FHA commissioner. Wade previously served as acting FHA commissioner and assistant secretary for housing from July 2017 to June 2018, and Broeksmit advocated for a speedy confirmation.
“With this confirmation complete, we hope the Senate will now quickly confirm the nomination of Dana Wade to replace him as FHA commissioner,” Broeksmit stated. “MBA looks forward to continuing our partnership with Secretary Carson, Deputy Secretary Montgomery, and the team at HUD as we work to create sensible solutions for the housing market and the overall economy.”