Fox News Latest Headlines
Former Giants co-owner Steve Tisch seen in team's draft room
Cameras showed former New York Giants co-owner Steve Tisch in the team’s draft room Thursday night during the first round.
At one point, Tisch was seen standing near Giants head coach John Harbaugh. Despite no longer holding a majority stake in the NFL franchise, Tisch remains the Giants' chairman of the board.
ESPN obtained an NFL memo last month detailing plans by Steve Tisch and his siblings to transfer their stake in the Giants to trusts for their children.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
"Prior transfers to these Trusts were completed pursuant to 2023 and 2024 Finance Committee approvals," the memo stated. "The Sellers now propose to transfer their entire remaining interests, totaling 23.1% of the Club, to the Trusts. ... Following the transactions, the Sellers will no longer own any interest in the Club."
It was not clear if the transfer requests were in any way related to Tisch’s name appearing in the Epstein files released by the U.S. Justice Department in January. Tisch’s name came up more than 400 times in the files. Tisch at the time said he knew Epstein but denied visiting Epstein's island.
As for draft night, the Giants made what some viewed as an unconventional pick at No. 10, selecting offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa.
Before that, the Giants added another piece to their pass rush, selecting hybrid edge/off-ball linebacker Arvell Reese at No. 5.
Reese earned All-American honors at Ohio State and finished his first season as a full-time starter with 6.5 sacks.
Reese is set to join a pass rush that includes Brian Burns, Abdul Carter and, likely, Kayvon Thibodeaux.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Rueben Bain's short arms and tragic car accident history contributed to his NFL Draft slide
Everybody knew about the tragic auto accident and the follow-up a year later, but when it came to Rueben Bain’s draft status, people said, "No worries." His arms are short, but he’s really good, so the refrain remained: "No worries."
Why then did Rueben Bain slide to the middle of the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday?
Whoever said neither issue would cause Bain to fall out of the Top 10 was obviously wrong.
He fell to the No. 15 overall selection held by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
TRAVIS HUNTER GETS REAL ON HIS AND SHEDEUR SANDERS' NFL FUTURES: 'WE JUST GOING TO WORK'
And judging by Bain's demeanor during his post-draft interview on ESPN, he wasn't thrilled about it.
"I know I'm the best in the country, I'm sure," an unsmiling Bain told ESPN's Laura Rutledge after his selection. "That's how I think of myself.
"I'm telling you I can do anything I put my mind to because of my mindset. I know when I get to this next level I'm going to pop it. "
The Buccaneers selected Bain to be their outside rusher complement to Vita Vea on the interior.
The Bucs thus get the ACC defensive player of the year and a consensus All-American.
But they also get a player that multiple other pass-rush needy teams passed up. The New York Jets took TCU's David Bailey with the No. 2 overall selection and the New York Giants picked Arvell Reese in the No. 5 slot.
Bain was not only the 15th player taken overall but the third edge defender. That's considered great by any standard. But it's a disappointment to Bain and changes the narrative on him somewhat.
TOP NFL DRAFT PROSPECT ASHTON JEANTY IS 'SPECIAL TALENT' AND 'AWESOME KID,' COLLEGE COACH SAYS
"He's got to prove himself and beat the odds and prove he can get it done in the NFL," draft guru Mel Kiper said on national TV.
Interestingly, most of the coverage of Bain's slide focused on the short length of his arms.
Melvin Ingram once upon a time measured in with arms the spanned 31 1/2 inches. And although that is considered short, Ingram turned into a good player. He played 12 seasons and made three Pro Bowls.
GREG OLSEN'S ADVICE FOR NFL DRAFT FIRST-ROUND PICKS ON HANDLING HIGH EXPECTATIONS
But Bain's arms measured in at 30 7/8 inches, and that is extremely short. Indeed, it is the third-shortest arm length of any DE ever to participate in the combine.
So, is that the reason Bain dropped out of the Top 10?
SHEDEUR SANDERS HISTORIC NFL DRAFT DRAMA IGNITES HEATED RACIAL DEBATES: 'FEELS LIKE KAEPERNICK'
Or is it his driving troubles and the manner in which he addressed those with teams?
Bain, you should know, was driving in March of 2024 when he hit another car on South Florida's I-95 in the 4 a.m. hour and set off a chain reaction — hitting an eastside concrete wall and then careening all the way across the highway to the westside concrete barrier — that eventually left passenger Destiny Betts in a coma.
Betts, who had not been wearing a seatbelt, died three months later from complications of her blunt force trauma injuries.
SHEDEUR SANDERS' 'MISTAKE' COST HIM DRAFT POSITION, NFL ANALYST SAYS
Bain was charged but cleared of careless driving because, in part, the traffic homicide investigator said he received the final report after Bain had already paid his citation.
NFL teams were aware of all this, plus an ensuing accident the player had in October 2025, for which he was also charged with careless driving.
To make matters more dicey, Bain declined to be fully transparent about the accidents with some NFL teams he met with starting at the NFL combine. That disappointed at least one team, an evaluator on that team told OutKick.
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
Bain also declined to discuss the matter on Wednesday in front of reporters.
The Buccaneers, however, feel good about Bain, his short arms and his questionable driving.
"We've known about this a long time," said general manager Jason Licht. "I know it just came out a couple of weeks ago. It was a very tragic accident. Tragic experience for the family. And it's something you never want to see happen.
"But he's a good person who was involved in something that, you know, none of us ever want to be involved in and never want any of our loved ones involved in. But he loves football. He loves football."
Giants use top-10 picks on Ohio State's Arvell Reese, Miami's Francis Mauigoa in 2026 NFL Draft
The New York Giants were armed with two picks in the top 10 of the 2026 NFL Draft, and the new regime led by head coach John Harbaugh showed its focus on the trenches on both sides of the ball.
With the fifth overall pick, the Giants saw Ohio State star edge rusher Arvell Reese fall to them and they pulled the trigger, taking their third edge rusher in the first round since 2022.
Then, with the No. 10 overall pick, the Giants had the opportunity to take another Buckeyes defensive star, as safety Caleb Downs fell down the draft board. But it’s clear the Giants are protecting their future, quarterback Jaxson Dart, as they went offensive line with their next pick.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Miami tackle Francis Mauigoa was called out of the NFL Draft green room in Pittsburgh as the No. 10 overall pick. While he played tackle with the Hurricanes, Mauigoa is expected to move to the offensive interior line.
The Giants re-signed Jermaine Eluemunor, who shined as the team’s right tackle in 2025, during free agency. He’s expected to remain in that role, but the Giants have question marks at guard, and there’s a belief Mauigoa can move inside.
TOP FIVE HILARIOUS NFL DRAFT NIGHT MOMENTS TO GET THE NOSTALGIA FLOWING
In some mock drafts entering Thursday, Reese was projected to go second overall to the New York Jets. But the Jets went with David Bailey out of Texas Tech instead.
From there, the Arizona Cardinals went with Jeremiyah Love, making him the highest-picked running back since the Giants took Saquon Barkley in 2018. The Tennessee Titans went with wide receiver Carnell Tate, the first Buckeyes player off the board, and Reese fell into their laps.
Giants receiver Malik Nabers, making an appearance on a draft show alongside Green Bay Packers edge rusher Micah Parsons, questioned where Reese would play considering Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Abdul Carter, the team’s No. 3 overall pick a year ago, play edge rusher.
But Harbaugh hinted at the plan to make Reese an inside linebacker – an area of need on the Giants’ defense. If that is the plan, Reese’s athleticism, which has been on display throughout his Ohio State career, will be tested at the NFL level.
As for Mauigoa, the 6-foot-5, 329-pound tackle was viewed as one of the top offensive line prospects in this draft throughout the process.
Mauigoa was a first-team All-American selection this past year for a Miami squad that reached the national championship game. He started all 16 games at right tackle for the Hurricanes.
There was, however, an injury question surrounding Mauigoa, as he has dealt with a back issue that may require surgery at some point in his pro career. Teams have their due diligence in these matters, and the Giants don’t seem to be concerned to spend the pick on him.
This was the 10th overall pick the Giants acquired after trading All-Pro defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals last week, fulfilling his trade request amid a contract dispute.
Mauigoa already put himself in Giants fans' good graces, saying during his draft interview, "I'll die for you, Jaxson Dart." That's the type of energy Harbaugh, Dart and the rest of the Giants are looking for at an essential position on the football field.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Fernando Mendoza embraces wheelchair-bound mom after Raiders select him No 1 overall
Fernando Mendoza shared the moment of being selected first overall in the NFL Draft with his family from home on Thursday night.
He was seen hugging his family, including his mother Elsa Mendoza, in a moment of celebration.
Despite being projected to be the first overall pick, Mendoza skipped the in-person draft in Pittsburgh to stay in Florida with his mother, who battles multiple sclerosis (MS) and is bound to a wheelchair.
Mendoza told reporters after he was drafted that he decided not to go to Pittsburgh to make it easier for his mother to travel to Las Vegas tomorrow when he visits his team.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
When Mendoza was only about 4 years old, his mother was diagnosed with the disease. It is a chronic, autoimmune disease of the central nervous system that can affect the brain and spinal cord. She has spent the last few years in a wheelchair.
Elsa Mendoza wrote about the experience in a 2015 letter to her sons that was published in The Players Tribune.
"I was diagnosed about 18 years ago, but of course you never knew that. You and Alberto were so young, and I was doing fine… and mostly I didn’t want you to worry. It just felt like this impossible thing to place on you guys. On my sweet boys. And then I kept doing fine until about 10 years ago, when we went skiing and I broke my ankle and knee," she wrote.
"But even after that, I wasn’t quite ready to tell you — only that my leg hadn’t healed all the way, which is why your mom had her limp. It wasn’t until five years ago, when I got Covid, that things started to go downhill in a way where there was no more hiding it. It was during football season, and I realized I wasn’t going to be able to travel. And the thought of you wondering if I supported you any less, because suddenly I wasn’t at your games? I hated that. So that’s when I knew we had to sit you and your brother down."
INDIANA FOOTBALL STAR AND HIS BROTHER TURN THEIR NAMESAKE BURGER INTO BATTLE AGAINST MS
She went on to recall, "how hard of a conversation it ended up being. 'Your mom has this degenerative disease… and while we don’t know how it will progress, it’s going to start to affect us in a few ways. But it won’t affect us in the ways that matter. We’ll have each other, and love each other, and be there for each other. I promise.'"
Both of Mednzoa's parents grew up in Miami, Florida, as the children of Cuban refugees who fled communism after Fidel Castro rose to power in the country.
Mendoza's father, Fernando Mendoza Sr., was a rower at Brown University and a 1987 Junior World Championships gold medalist.
But Mendoza's father also played football when he was younger, and was teammates with Miami Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal at Christopher Columbus High School during the 1980s. Mendoza would go on to defeat his father's former teammate in this year's CFP national championship game.
Meanwhile, his mother played tennis at the University of Miami.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Tom Brady offers advice incoming NFL rookies, welcomes Fernando Mendoza after Raiders make him the top pick
For more than two dozen players, Thursday night marks the realization of their lifelong NFL dreams. By night’s end, 32 prospects will hear their names called from the NFL Draft stage in Pittsburgh.
Seven-time Super Bowl winner and Las Vegas Raiders minority owner Tom Brady reflected on the special moment so many young men were experiencing, while also sharing a message with the league’s newest rookies.
"Congratulations to all the rookies who are joining the NFL this weekend," Brady wrote in a post to X. "I hope you can appreciate this special moment… you’ve earned it through hard work, discipline, and determination. You’ve made your family proud, along with everyone else on your journey that has supported you. But this is just the beginning."
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Brady then emphasized the challenge ahead, urging rookies to focus on what comes next.
"When you wake up tomorrow morning, just know that your career will be defined by what happens going forward. You’ll need to take everything you do to the next level in order to compete with the world’s best."
Brady wasn’t in the Raiders draft room, but he still had a message for the No. 1 pick, Fernando Mendoza: "Welcome to Las Vegas @fernandomendoza. Time to get to work. @Raiders."
The Raiders’ top pick has a long way to go to match what the New England Patriots found at No. 199 in 2000 — the spot where Brady was drafted.
Mendoza said Brady delivered a blunt message during his official visit with the Raiders in the days leading up to the draft.
"It was fantastic. He gave me the message that he's going to push me, and he's not going to be all lovey-dovey. And that if the Raiders draft me, he's going to be a mentor and wants to pour into whatever quarterback the Raiders have — whether it's me, whether they draft somebody else."
Other notable first-round moves included the Kansas City Chiefs moving up to No. 6 and selecting LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane. A short time later, the Cowboys shook things up, trading up to No. 11 to select Ohio State safety Caleb Downs.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Elite school teacher known as 'Mr Wonderful' accused of heinous crimes against students
A former private school teacher, who was nicknamed "Mr. Wonderful," has been charged with three counts of rape involving two of his former students.
Matthew Rutledge, 64, walked into Berkshire Superior Court in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, on Wednesday for his arraignment after Melissa Fares, 33, and Hilary Simon, 39, accused their teacher of abusing them when they were students at Miss Hall's School. The abuse allegedly happened between 2000 and 2010. He pleaded not guilty.
The allegations include claims Rutledge groomed and repeatedly abused students, according to statements released by the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office.
"For a long time, I was living inside trauma without fully understanding it," Fares said in a statement shared by the Berkshire District Attorney's Office. "It was over the last several years that I began piecing together the truth of what happened to me: that Matt Rutledge had used me, abused me, and raped me. That I had been groomed and threatened into silence by a serial predator. That my youth wasn't my youth at all."
Simon said she was 15 years old when Rutledge first began "grooming" her, and that the abuse "continued for years" after she left campus.
"I fought this privately for 20 years," her statement read. "I have been fighting it publicly for two. Before any of this, I was just a normal person. A lawyer. A wife and a mother. A woman trying to build a life on top of something I had buried. And then Melissa Fares called. I did not know Melissa. I picked up the phone, and I told her I had been waiting for that call for 20 years."
According to NBC, citing a report prepared for Miss Hall’s School, Rutledge allegedly called out "Make way for Mr. Wonderful" as he moved through the hallways.
LOUISIANA SCHOOL'S TEACHER OF THE YEAR ACCUSED OF INAPPROPRIATE CONDUCT WITH FORMER STUDENT
Fares and Simon said they discovered in 2024 that they had similar accounts of Rutledge’s alleged abuse and decided to pursue charges together.
Despite their allegations, the district attorney's office at the time declined to move forward with the case, citing Massachusetts' age of consent law at the time, which allowed for an adult to have sex with a person over the age of 16, according to the women.
The two women then pushed for legislation to close what they called a "legal loophole" and make it illegal for a teacher to have sex with a student.
Rutledge is now charged under separate rape statutes. Prosecutors have not publicly detailed what led to the decision to charge Rutledge.
JUDGE DISMISSES CHARGES IN ALLEGED CAMPUS VIGILANTE 'CATCH A PREDATOR' STING TARGETING ARMY SOLDIER
Rutledge was indicted by the District Attorney's office last month.
Speaking at a press conference following the arraignment, Fares claimed to reporters that Miss Hall's School was aware of Rutledge’s alleged behavior.
"Miss Hall’s School knew," she said. "This whole school knew. They enabled a culture of abuse for decades. They failed us, our families and every girl trusted them to protect her. They must also be held accountable."
Miss Hall’s School said in a statement shared with Fox News Digital that it is cooperating with authorities and acknowledged the impact on its community.
"Wednesday’s arraignment was an important and painful moment for our community," the school said. "We will continue to cooperate fully with authorities. We are sorry for the harm that survivors have experienced and the impact on our community."
A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for June 18, according to WCVB.
Fox News Digital's Sarah Rumpf-Whitten contributed to this report.
Rams make surprise first-round move, take Alabama QB Ty Simpson
One of the most intriguing stories entering the first round of the NFL Draft was where Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson might land. Well, fans got their answer sooner than they expected.
The Los Angeles Rams surprisingly selected Simpson with the No. 13 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The selection isn't completely out of left field and is arguably the best-case scenario for Simpson. The Rams have Matthew Stafford as their starter for 2026, but Stafford has flirted with the idea of retirement each of the past two offseasons. It's clear the clock is ticking on his NFL career.
Now, Simpson gets to sit behind one of the NFL's best veteran quarterbacks, learn the position while adapting to life in the NFL, and not face immediate pressure to succeed. Additionally, the Rams are one of the most well-run franchises in the league right now. Sean McVay is an elite head coach who led the team to a Super Bowl victory to cap the 2021 season and just had the team within one win of another Super Bowl berth before falling to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship.
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
The most surprising aspect is the Rams looking toward the future, quite frankly. This is a team that has had no problem trading away first-round picks to make its team the best it can be each season. It seemed most likely the team would use the No. 13 pick to improve its team for next season, which could be Stafford's last. Instead, the team decided to put itself in position for Stafford's retirement without skipping a beat.
There were several surprises in the first 13 picks of the 2026 NFL Draft: the Cardinals taking Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love at No. 3, the Titans selecting Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate at No. 4, the Kansas City Chiefs trading up to take LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane at No. 6 and even the Cowboys trading up one spot to make sure they drafted Ohio State safety Caleb Downs at No. 11.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
But the Rams completely abandoning their recent strategy (usually trading away first-round picks and loading up for now) to select Stafford's heir apparent is easily the biggest early shock of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Cardinals draft Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love with the No. 3 overall pick in 2026 NFL Draft
The Arizona Cardinals went with a true playmaker on offense, selecting Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love with the third overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Many believed heading into the first round Thursday night that Arizona was a perfect trade-down candidate because teams might have paid a premium to land either Love or someone else they coveted.
It looked that way as the clock ticked closer to zero, but the Cardinals ended up putting their pick in, landing the consensus top running back in this 2026 class.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Love became the highest drafted running back since the New York Giants selected Saquon Barkley second overall out of Penn State in 2018. And he joins a Cardinals offense that will be revamped under new head coach Mike LaFleur.
It’s a West Coast-style offense for LaFleur, and he gets a speedy Love, who ran a 4.36 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. The tape also speaks for itself, with Love showcasing explosive physical traits as well as strength in the trenches.
2026 NFL DRAFT ODDS: BACK DAVID BAILEY AS NO. 2 PICK, JEREMIYAH LOVE TO GIANTS
Love also joins a veteran in James Conner, and Tyler Allgeier signed with the Cardinals this offseason. But Love has the talent to set himself apart from the rest, with many believing he was the best overall player in this draft.
Love ran for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns this past season for the Fighting Irish, while surpassing 100 yards in six of his 14 showings. He even rushed for a whopping 228 yards against the USC Trojans.
Given the Cardinals didn't have a single 100-yard rusher this past season, they’re going with someone who can provide juice to the new-look offense.
It’s also a new look with Kyler Murray out after he went to the Minnesota Vikings after his release from Arizona.
The Cardinals, at least for now, are heading into the 2026 season with Jacoby Brissett, the veteran journeyman who took over for the injured Murray last year, as their starting quarterback.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Chiefs and Browns make first trade of 2026 draft and both eventually fill needs
The Cleveland Browns, rumored to be willing to trade down from their No. 6 overall selection in the 2026 NFL draft, did just that Thursday evening when the traded the pick to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Cleveland traded the sixth overall pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft to the Chiefs, in exchange for the ninth overall pick, as well as pick No. 74 in the third round and No. 148 in the fifth round.
The Browns now hold the No. 9 and No. 24 picks in the first round of the draft. They have a total of 11 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft.
So the Chiefs gave up three picks in making the first trade of the first round.
BROWNS EXECS RAISE EYEBROWS WITH REACTIONS AFTER DRAFTING SHEDEUR SANDERS FOLLOWING HISTORIC SLIDE
And we know what the fan bases of both clubs were thinking prior to the selection:
Chiefs fans were thinking we know something they don't. And then the Chiefs selected cornerback Mansoor Delane from LSU -- a move no doubt forced by the club's trade of Pro Bowl cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams earlier in the offseason.
So, the Chiefs fill a major need, assuming Delane is indeed the quality corner they believe.
GREG OLSEN'S ADVICE FOR NFL DRAFT FIRST-ROUND PICKS ON HANDLING HIGH EXPECTATIONS
ESPN's Mel Kiper didn't like the pick, by the way. He had Delane as the 14th best player in the draft.
"It was a necessity," ESPN analyst Louis Riddick, a former NFL defensive back, responded.
Browns fans weren't thinking that way.
BROWNS MAKE STUNNING KENNY PICKETT TRADE TO RAIDERS AS BACKUP QUARTERBACK ROLE REMAINS WIDE OPEN
They were probably thinking something akin to "We screwed up."
This is understandable because they're Browns fans and this could have been the Browns Browning.
Well, the Browns, moving down three slots, gave up a shot to draft linebacker Sonny Styles of Ohio State to the Washington Commanders, receiver Jordyn Tyson to the New Orleans Saints and then the Browns got their chance with the newly acquired No. 9 pick:
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
Offensive tackle Spencer Fano of Utah.
Fano is good. And he makes the Browns offensive line instantly better because he's going to likely start at left tackle for them.
So what will Browns fans think of this pick?
They'll probably wonder why the Browns didn't pick Miami's Francis Mauigoa, who went with the No. 10 pick to the New York Giants and promised "to die for" Jaxson Dart if necessary. They'll wonder this because Browns fans expect the worst.
Trump Cabinet member scraps Obama-era gender identity housing rule, cites ‘biological reality’
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner has ordered an immediate halt to enforcement of a key Obama-era housing rule tied to gender identity, directing the agency to operate programs based on biological sex.
The directive stops any pending or future enforcement of HUD’s 2016 Equal Access Rule, which expanded gender identity as formally recognized in federally-funded housing programs and shelters.
The move marks a significant shift in how shelters and HUD-funded providers operate, particularly those serving women fleeing domestic violence, and implements President Donald Trump’s executive order to restore what the administration calls "biological truth" across the federal government.
"I am directing HUD staff to halt any pending or future enforcement actions related to HUD’s 2016 Equal Access Rule, which, in essence, tied housing programs, shelters and other facilities funded by HUD to far-left gender ideology," Turner said.
TRUMP STOPPED BIDEN’S PLAN TO FORCE DEI ON LOCAL COMMUNITIES
"We, at this agency, are carrying out the mission laid out by President Trump on Jan. 20 … to restore biological truth to the federal government," he added.
"This means recognizing there are only two sexes: male and female. It means getting government out of the way of what the Lord established from the beginning when he created man in His own image."
The 2016 rule allowed people to self-identify for gender when accessing certain housing services, limiting the ability of shelters to challenge that identification.
Critics of the rule argued it restricted the rights of shelters, particularly those serving women impacted by trauma, domestic abuse and violence, by requiring them to admit individuals based on gender identity rather than biological sex.
JUDGE FORCES CA HOSPITAL TO KEEP TRANS TREATMENTS FOR MINORS DESPITE TRUMP FUNDING THREAT
Turner framed the move as part of a broader overhaul of HUD policy and spending.
"Moreover, this is just the first of many examples of how, starting on day one, HUD is going back to work for the American people and being a good steward of taxpayer dollars," he said. "There will be more where this came from."
The Equal Access Rule was first introduced in 2012, prohibiting discrimination in HUD-funded programs based on sexual orientation, gender identity and marital status. A 2016 update expanded those protections by requiring programs to recognize gender identity as well.
Turner’s order does not repeal the rule but halts enforcement tied to the 2016 expansion.
"As I have said before, we are going to take inventory of HUD’s programs and ensure every dollar that goes out the door is advancing HUD’s mission, which is to provide quality, affordable homes for communities across the country — urban, rural and tribal — and promote economic investment to build stronger communities and a brighter future for all Americans," Turner said.