Synopsis:  As concerns about rolled-back protections grow louder, whistleblowers at HUD have risked it all by going public with allegations that paint a stark picture of systematic regression on equality under the law.

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Description:  Housing discrimination is illegal in the U.S., but every year, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) receives thousands of complaints from individuals who believe they are not being treated fairly because of their race, religion, disability and other protected classes. HUD is one of the only free resources available to Americans facing housing discrimination, but a shocking new whistleblower complaint letter released on Monday, September 29, 2025 says the agency is in crisis. Staff was slashed by 70% since Donald Trump took office, some civil rights cases have been abandoned, and political appointees are allegedly overriding legal findings to allow discrimination. These are just some of the claims in the formal complaint letter, which has now been filed through U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren’s office and taken to the press. In this conversation, Laura Flanders speaks to two of the four whistleblowers, HUD civil rights fair housing attorneys, to find out what this story means for civil rights and why they’re speaking out now. As fair housing hangs in the balance, Palmer Heenan and Paul Osadebe are organizing union members to uphold their oath to defend the constitution and protect Americans.

Guests:

• Palmer Heenan: Attorney, HUD Whistleblower; Member, AFGE 476

• Paul Osadebe: Attorney, HUD Whistleblower; Steward, AFGE 476

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Watch the special report on YouTube; PBS World Channel September 12th, and on over 300 public stations across the country (check your listings, or search here via zipcode). Listen: Episode airing on community radio September 15th  (check here to see if your station is airing the show) & available as a podcast.

RESOURCES:

Related Episodes:

•  Housing is a Human Right Watch / Listen

•  Frances Golden, “Rabble Rousers” & the NYC Housing Struggle that Won. Watch / Listen / Full, Uncut Conversation

•  Domestic Violence Survivor & Homeless Too?  A CA Cohort Shows What Can Be Done. Watch/Listen /  Full, Uncut Conversation

Related Articles and Resources:

• U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren announces receipt of official complaint from HUD whistleblowers, ‘If you buy a home or rent a home or want to…’  YouTube

•. Trump appointees roll back rollback enforcement of fair housing laws, by Debra Kamin, September 22, 2025, New York Times

•  Federal Workers Are Organizing for Democracy- from the Inside Out, by Chris Does and Alissa Tafti, June 25, 2025, NP Quarterly

•  Save Public Services

•  Exclusive:  Federal Whistleblowers Expose How Trump’s HUD is Abandoning Vulnerable Americans, by Maximillian Alvarez, September 22, 2025, The Real News Network

•  Trump’s housing department rolls back work to combat residential segregation, whistleblowers allege, by Shcris Stein, September 24, 2025, The Guardian

Full Episode Notes are located HERE.

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Music Credit:  "Dusk & Glimmer" by Blue Dot Sessions.  Original sound design by Jeannie Hopper

CHAPTERS:

Exposing Alarming Civil Rights Rollbacks at HUD

00:00:00

Senator Warren Exposes HUD's Attack on Civil Rights

00:01:50

Why HUD Whistleblowers Risked Careers to Speak Out

00:04:51

How Political Interference Dismantles Fair Housing Enforcement

00:08:24

Protecting Survivors: The Violence Against Women Act Team

00:14:24

Collective Action: Building Worker Power Through FUN

00:16:49

Legal Strategy: Why a Formal Whistleblower Complaint

00:21:40

From Trump's Past to 'Valentine's Day Massacre' Layoffs

00:26:31

The Growing Movement of Organized Federal Workers

00:30:01

Demanding Oversight and Transparency for HUD Actions

00:34:34

Defending Unions: The Power of Collective Worker Solidarity

00:38:10

Why Rolling Back Protections Harms Everyone, Not Just Some

00:40:46

Federal Workers' Vision for a Fairer American Society

00:44:43
 

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