A U.S. audit found $5.8 billion in questionable rental aid payments in 2024, with hundreds of thousands of ineligible recipients across all states.

Out of nearly $50 billion disbursed during fiscal year 2024, the last year of the Biden administration, a U.S. HUD audit found $5.8 billion in dubious rental assistance payments. Over 200,000 potentially ineligible recipients were found in the 183-page report, including 29,715 deceased people, 9,472 non-citizens, and over 165,000 households that exceeded income limits. All 50 states received payments to ineligible tenants, but New York, California, and Washington, D.C. had the highest concentrations. Weak financial controls, reliance on local entities without adequate verification, and insufficient oversight were all highlighted in the audit. President-elect Trump's nominee, HUD Secretary Scott Turner, blamed the problems on rapid disbursement priorities and promised remedial measures, such as funding reviews, grant pauses, and prosecution referrals.