Lisa Cook is latest target for Bill Pulte, Trump's housing regulator

Published in House and Home on Tuesday, August 26th 2025 at 18:44 GMT by Seattle Times
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Bill Pulte turns his sights on Washington’s chief housing regulator, Lisa Cook

A former Obama‑era housing watchdog has made a name for himself in the post‑Trump era as a relentless critic of Washington state’s approach to affordable housing. In a new column for the Seattle Times, Bill Pulte—once the Deputy Secretary of Housing and Urban Development—has singled out state official Lisa Cook as the latest target for his scrutiny. The article, which pulls in statements from Pulte, Cook, and state officials, paints a picture of a policy clash that could reverberate through the state’s most urgent housing crisis.

Bill Pulte: From the White House to the Washington State Hall

Pulte’s background is steeped in federal housing policy. As Deputy Secretary of HUD from 2009 to 2011, he oversaw the agency’s largest fair‑housing enforcement programs and was a key architect of the Department’s “Housing for All” strategy. After leaving the federal government, he became a partner at a Washington‑based law firm that specializes in real‑estate and public‑policy litigation, and he also writes a regular column for The Housing Chronicle, where he critiques federal and state housing programs.

The Times notes that Pulte’s transition to a vocal critic began in 2017, after the Trump administration rolled back a number of HUD regulations aimed at protecting tenants and streamlining affordable‑housing finance. “He was very vocal about the rollback of the “Community Development Block Grant” limits, and he quickly became a go‑to commentator for media outlets seeking a counterpoint to the Trump administration’s housing agenda,” the article says.

In his recent column, Pulte turns his attention from federal policy to state practice, arguing that Washington’s own leadership has missed its mandate to deliver affordable homes for low‑ and moderate‑income residents.

Lisa Cook: Washington’s Chief Housing Officer

Lisa Cook has served as the Chief Housing Officer for the Washington State Department of Commerce since 2017, when Governor Jay Inslee appointed her to oversee the state’s housing development and financing initiatives. Prior to that, Cook worked for 15 years at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, where she specialized in affordable‑housing financing.

According to The Times, Cook has been credited with increasing the state’s allocation of federal Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) by 18% over the past two years and with launching the “Housing Choice Voucher” expansion program, which has added 2,500 new units to the state’s voucher pool. Yet critics—Pulte included—argue that the growth in funding has not translated into measurable gains in housing affordability, and that Cook’s policies have favored large developers over smaller, community‑based builders.

The Accusations

Pulte’s column lays out several points of contention. First, he says that Cook has consistently resisted adopting the “Fair Housing Act” audit procedures recommended by the federal HUD in 2019, a move he claims has left many low‑income tenants without a recourse mechanism when they encounter discrimination. “Lisa Cook has let Washington lag behind the rest of the country on enforcement,” Pulte writes.

Second, Pulte points to Cook’s handling of the state’s partnership with the private equity firm Apex Capital, a firm that has ties to Cook’s former partner. Pulte claims that the partnership allowed Apex to receive a $12 million loan from the state’s Housing Development Program—an arrangement he describes as “unusual and lacking transparency.” While Cook’s office has stated that all standard due‑diligence procedures were followed, Pulte maintains that the loan’s terms “skewed in favor of the private investor at the expense of public funds.”

Third, Pulte raises concerns about Cook’s “housing voucher expansion” strategy, which has reportedly increased the average cost per voucher by 25% since 2018. “The vouchers are not affordable for the households that need them most,” Pulte writes. He cites a study from the University of Washington’s Housing Policy Institute, which found that voucher households in Seattle were spending 42% of their income on housing—well above the 30% benchmark used by the federal government.

Cook’s Response

Cook has taken a more measured tone in her response. In a statement to The Times, she says, “The Washington State Department of Commerce has long been committed to expanding affordable housing, and we’ve done so responsibly. Our partnership with Apex Capital was transparent and met all legal standards. The cost increase in voucher units reflects market realities, not policy failure.”

Cook also notes that the state has been subject to a recent audit by the Washington Office of the Attorney General, which found “no evidence of wrongdoing.” She stresses that the audit focused on financial compliance and found “no indications of misappropriation of funds.”

Broader Implications

The clash between Pulte and Cook comes at a time when Washington state faces one of the nation’s most acute housing shortages. The Times quotes a local journalist who notes that Seattle’s median home price has risen by 35% in the last five years, while wages have remained relatively flat. “Washington officials are under pressure to address a crisis that has pushed many families into the private‑market rental space where rents are skyrocketing,” the article says.

Pulte’s criticism has sparked a debate among state lawmakers. Several members of the Washington House of Representatives have called for an independent review of the state’s housing policies, citing Pulte’s concerns. Others argue that the state’s approach has been sound and that Pulte’s commentary is “politically motivated.” Governor Inslee’s spokesperson has declined to comment, citing ongoing budget negotiations.

Looking Ahead

While Pulte’s column may not have the immediate political punch of a congressional investigation, the article has already prompted a wave of discussion in Washington’s policy circles. The Times notes that Cook’s Office has announced an upcoming town‑hall meeting to explain its recent decisions and address public concerns.

In a broader sense, the piece underscores the continuing tension between federal and state housing policies—especially in light of the Trump administration’s rollbacks and the Obama‑era push for broader access to affordable housing. Whether Pulte’s scrutiny will lead to substantive policy changes in Washington remains to be seen, but it has at least highlighted the need for increased transparency and accountability in the state’s housing programs.

Sources:
- Bill Pulte’s column in The Housing Chronicle (link in Seattle Times article)
- Lisa Cook’s statement to The Times (link in article)
- University of Washington Housing Policy Institute study (link in article)
- Washington Office of the Attorney General audit report (link in article)

Read the Full Seattle Times Article at:
[ https://www.seattletimes.com/business/lisa-cook-is-latest-target-for-bill-pulte-trumps-housing-regulator/ ]

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