Alarms as Trump's affordable housing official crowdfunds his own down payment
A Department of Housing and Urban Development staffer tasked with sourcing affordable home solutions is asking for help buying his home.
Benjamin Hobbs, the assistant secretary for public and Indian housing, has listed a donations pot for a down payment on a house as part of his Zola wedding registry. While not an out-there request, with the Washington Post reporting 87% of Zola customers asking for some form of cash gift and a further 39% specifically for a house down payment, an ethics board believes Hobbs' request could be a breach.
Because Hobbs is a government employee, ethics experts believe the request could be a chance for those wanting to curry favor with the department to get closer to the team. ...
Mar 17, 2026