Democrats on a House Appropriations Committee subpanel pressed Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson Benjamin (Ben) Solomon CarsonBiden cannot keep letting Trump set the agenda The Hill's 12:30 Report: Trump heads to New Hampshire after renomination speech Five takeaways on GOP's norm-breaking convention MORE Wednesday on his department’s proposal to slash funds for housing assistance.

HUD’s fiscal 2021 budget request asks for $48 billion, a cut of $8.6 billion or 15 percent compared to the current levels.

“This is woefully inadequate to the task at hand,” said Rep. David Price David Eugene PriceHouse panel approves measure requiring masks on public transport Overnight Energy: 350 facilities skip reporting water pollution | Panel votes to block Trump's 'secret science' rule | Court upholds regulation boosting electric grid storage Committee votes to block Trump's 'secret science' EPA rule MORE (D-N.C.), chairman of the House Appropriations transportation subcommittee.

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The cut comes at the expense of 43 percent of public housing funds while also eliminating programs such as the National Housing Trust Fund, Home Investment Partnerships, Community Development Block Grant and Choice Neighborhoods.

Though Price said there are a “handful of bright spots” in the “overwhelmingly grim picture” HUD’s new budget presents, “modest investments are more than offset by the draconian cuts and unrealistic program eliminations.”

That White House has previously said budget cuts are an effort to reduce the deficit, which has hit $1 trillion since Trump was elected.

In his opening statement, Carson said HUD’s budget proposal “ensures that the people HUD serves continue to receive rental assistance” while recognizing that “difficult budget choices need to be made to prevent future generations from inheriting a mountain of debt.”

Carson acknowledged the programs on the chopping block have proven successful and suggested that states do more to pick up the tab.

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“It’s very difficult to get the concept across that I like those programs, I think we like those programs,” Carson said. “Can we afford them when we continue to create the kind of debt that we’re going to pass on to the next generation and ruin their lives?"

“I think those programs should be funded by the state, not necessarily by the federal government.”

Panel ranking member Mario Diaz-Balart Mario Rafael Diaz-Balart'Trump show' convention sparks little interest on K Street Rep. Dan Meuser tests positive for COVID-19 Watchdog calls for probe into Gohmert 'disregarding public health guidance' on COVID-19 MORE (R-Fla.) pointed out that the Trump administration’s proposed budget stands little chance in the Democratic-controlled House.

“I’m pretty certain I know what the House and this committee will do with those recommendations,” Diaz-Balart said.

“However, Mr. Secretary, your track record shows that when we exercise the power of the purse here in Congress, you prove to be a trusted partner in executing those programs to the benefits of our constituents,” he added.

Price and Rep. Norma Torres Norma Judith TorresIt's past time to be rid of the legacy of Jesse Helms Hispanic Caucus asks for Department of Labor meeting on COVID in meatpacking plants The Hill's Campaign Report: Biden's latest plan on racial inequality MORE (R-Calif.) pressed Carson on HUD’s newly enacted policy that bars families with mixed immigration status from obtaining housing assistance, a move the administration has admitted wouldn’t cut housing costs.

Carson argued HUD is adhering to the Housing and Community Development Act of 2018, making the case for the “100,000 families [of U.S. citizens] waiting in line [for housing assistance].”

“If we don’t like it, change the laws,” he said.

In several heated exchanges, Reps. Mike Quigley Michael (Mike) Bruce QuigleyDemocrats introduce legislation to revise FDA requirements for LGBT blood donors Tucker Carlson sparks condemnation with comments about deadly Kenosha shooting Hillicon Valley: Three arrested in Twitter hack | Trump pushes to break up TikTok | House approves 0M for election security MORE (D-Ill.) and Katherine Clark Katherine Marlea ClarkRep. Robin Kelly enters race for Democratic caucus vice chair Clark rolls out endorsements in assistant Speaker race Races heat up for House leadership posts MORE (D-Mass.) confronted Carson on a Trump administration HUD policy that requires transgender people seeking housing assistance to enroll in shelters based on their gender assigned at birth.

"I don’t disparage anyone,” Carson said. “I think everybody gets equal rights. No one gets extra rights and sometimes people interpret that as being against someone."

Carson claimed to have letters from women's groups that say they are uncomfortable with transgender women being allowed to stay at domestic violence shelters.

“When you have a single-sex shelter and it’s there specifically for women who are abused and then people come in who do not appear to be women but they say they are women and you have to accept them, does that impinge upon the rights of those women?” Carson asked.

Quigley accused the administration of enabling discrimination against transgender people "based on how they look."

"All due respect, Mr. Secretary, a person who doesn't see how the trans community and the LGBTQ community as a whole are being discriminated against has been living under a rock,” Quigley said.