Former HUD secretary says it's 'offensive' to claim Black people can't find ID on 'Hannity' Former Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson blasted the progressive push for racial equity as "what we used to call racism." In a new opinion piece published Monday, Carson argued that liberals' shift to prioritize equity over equality is antithetical to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s ideals and "would reward and punish people because of the color of their skin." Current HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge explained during a confirmation hearing that equity is different than equality in that it requires treating people differently.