U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Marcia Fudge gave her two weeks’ notice earlier this week. After working in the public sector for almost 50 years, she will be retiring from public life.

“It has always been my belief that government can and should work for the people,” Fudge stated in her announcement. “For the last three years, I have fully embraced HUD’s mission to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. The people HUD serves are those who are often left out and left behind. These are my people. They serve as my motivation for everything we have been able to accomplish.”

According to a release, during Fudge’s tenure, HUD:

• Helped more than two million families stay in their homes and avoid foreclosure.
• Removed barriers for people with student loan debt trying to buy a home with a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) mortgage.
• Ensured that positive rental history plays a greater role in determining creditworthiness when trying to obtain a home loan.
• Outpaced the market by insuring FHA mortgages for three times as many Black borrowers and twice as many Hispanic borrowers based on percentage of volume.
• Made mortgages more affordable by reducing the mortgage insurance premium for FHA mortgages.

In an interview with “USA Today,” Fudge said, “it’s time to go home.” The public official added she strongly believed she has done everything she could at the agency for the Biden-Harris administration “as we go into this crazy, silly season of an election.” She also said she would not be running for any office going forward, stating she was ready for a private life.

Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Sandra Thompson referred to Fudge as an “outstanding leader” and a “strong advocate for affordable, equitable, and sustainable housing opportunities for all Americans.”

“During her tenure as Secretary of HUD, the country faced numerous housing challenges including recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, limited affordable housing supply, and the continuing effects of housing discrimination and homelessness,” Thompson said. “Secretary Fudge took decisive action to address these and other challenges. Under her leadership, HUD worked to ensure that every American had housing and the ability to live in strong and resilient communities. Her leadership has empowered people to build better futures for themselves and the generations that will follow. The impact of her work on the country’s affordable and often most vulnerable housing cannot be overstated.”