HUD deploys AI tool SweetREX to fast-track federal housing deregulation
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has introduced an AI tool called SweetREX to analyse and potentially remove federal housing regulations. Designed by DOGE, the system aims to speed up the review of rules by recommending whether each should be kept, deleted, or partially deleted. SweetREX was presented to HUD staff as a way to automate deregulation and reduce workload. It promised to cut rulemaking time by at least 90%, with the analysis of over 100,000 public comments taking just 2.4 hours instead of the current 36. Staff were told the tool would free them for more important tasks.
The system’s default setting assumes regulations should be rescinded unless proven otherwise. However, a source familiar with FOIA documents described its rollout as rushed and its grasp of U.S. laws as basic. They also warned it might struggle to assess compliance with new or open-ended rules.
Groups like Democracy Forward have raised concerns about SweetREX’s use at HUD. Its adoption has drawn criticism, with some calling the approach callous. So far, it remains unclear whether any HUD rules have been changed or removed based on the tool’s recommendations. The introduction of SweetREX highlights efforts to streamline HUD’s regulatory processes through AI. Concerns have been raised about its accuracy and legal understanding. The tool’s impact on actual rule changes at the department is not yet confirmed.
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