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U.S. Senate confirms Ben Carson as housing secretary

Xinhua, March 3, 2017 Adjust font size:

The U.S. Senate on Thursday confirmed Ben Carson as President Donald Trump's housing secretary by a 58-41 voting.

65-year-old Carson, a retired doctor, won support from 51 Republicans, six Democrats and one independent in the confirmation vote. He will lead the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) with about 8,300 employees and a budget of some 47 billion U.S. dollars.

The department manages housing assistance to low-income people through vouchers and public housing. It also enforces fair housing laws and offers mortgage insurance to poorer Americans through the Federal Housing Administration, part of HUD.

During the Senate hearings in January, Democrats said Carson would not have been their choice since he has never held public office and has no housing policy experience, but they welcomed his promises to address lead hazards in housing, homelessness and other issues, according to a USA Today report. Endit