Karen Bass to resign from LAHSA commission amid federal probe

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is stepping down from her position on the commission of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA). Bass cited time constraints and scheduling conflicts for her departure, noting that her experience with the agency reinforced her belief that the city requires its own independent homelessness response system.

The decision follows reports that Bass missed a significant portion of commission meetings since appointing herself to the board in 2023. Her departure also coincides with intense scrutiny from the House Oversight Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency. The subcommittee, led by Chairman Tim Burchett, is investigating allegations of “waste, fraud and abuse” involving over $1 billion in federal homelessness funding administered through LAHSA.

Bass has declined an invitation to testify before the subcommittee on September 15, citing unavailability, though her office stated she is willing to testify at a future date and is cooperating with records requests. While critics argue her exit reflects a failure to manage the crisis, city officials maintain that homelessness in Los Angeles has decreased by approximately 11% since 2023.