Pamela H. Patenaude, the deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under Secretary Ben Carson, resigned from her position on Monday, which will go into effect sometime in early 2019.
“Serving at HUD as Deputy Secretary has been the highlight of my 35-year career in housing,” Patenaude said in a statement announcing her resignation via Twitter. “[My husband] Chuck and I look forward to returning to our home state of New Hampshire where I will continue to promote the president’s agenda to make this nation stronger and more prosperous for every American.”
— Pam Patenaude (@HUDDepSec) December 17, 2018
Patenaude was first nominated for the deputy secretary position at HUD by President Trump in April of 2017. Her confirmation in the U.S. Senate followed about five months later through a decisive vote of 80-17, which was accompanied by a positive reaction from the mortgage industry. She was sworn in to her position shortly after the confirmation vote took place.
According to Politico, a HUD official said that Federal Housing Administration Commissioner Brian D. Montgomery will step in as acting deputy secretary immediately following Patenaude’s departure.
“This is a tremendous loss for HUD,” said Diane Yentel, president and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition in a statement on Twitter. “Pam’s dedication to housing for the lowest income and most vulnerable people is a big part of what held that building together over last 2 years. She moved some good things forward and stopped a lot of bad. I wish her all the best.”
Written by Chris Clow
