Maryland AG Believes Trump Administration Plan Could Weaken Fair Housing Protections

A proposal by the Trump administration to eliminate a key fair housing rule is facing resistance from a coalition of 21 state attorneys general, including Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown. The proposed rollback targets the Affirmative Fair Housing Marketing (AFHM) regulations, which require targeted outreach to ensure federally subsidized housing is marketed inclusively, especially in high-opportunity neighborhoods.

The existing AFHM rule mandates that housing providers actively reach communities that might otherwise be unaware of housing opportunities. This includes groups historically excluded from certain neighborhoods due to discriminatory practices. By repealing the rule, housing providers would no longer be obligated to conduct such outreach, potentially reinforcing patterns of racial and economic segregation. The attorneys general argue that this change could lead to unlawful discrimination in violation of the Fair Housing Act, which prohibits bias based on race, gender, national origin, and other protected categories.

The Trump administration has not proposed a replacement rule or provided a framework for how it would ensure non-discriminatory housing marketing in the absence of AFHM. The coalition contends that this lack of oversight leaves room for old discriminatory practices to resurface, worsening housing access for underrepresented populations. They also note that the move contradicts more than 50 years of established federal housing policy aimed at creating inclusive communities.

Maryland residents in high-demand housing markets may see reduced access to affordable housing options if the rollback goes into effect, particularly in neighborhoods with strong schools, jobs, and transit, according to Attorney General Brown.

Article by multiple contributors, based upon information from a press release issued by the Office of the Maryland Attorney General.

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