Senate Confirms New HUD Secretary, FHFA IG Nominee on Hold. The Senate this week voted 71-26 to approve San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro’s nomination to be secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. During his confirmation hearing last month before the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, Castro told Senators he thinks taxpayers should have more protection than they have now under the current GSE structure, though he did not back a specific legislative proposal. As HUD secretary, Castro is one of four members of the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s Oversight Board.