Trump administration plans affordable housing development on US federal lands

Trump's task force seeks to cut bureaucracy for faster housing development on federal land.

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The US government has announced a new plan to develop affordable housing on federal lands, with a joint task force set up by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of the Interior (DOI).

The initiative aims to identify unused federal land, simplify land transfer processes, and create policies that support more housing development.

The Federal Land for Housing task force was revealed in a Wall Street Journal op-ed written by HUD Secretary Scott Turner and DOI Secretary Doug Burgum on Monday. The plan aligns with President Donald Trump’s push for more housing construction, as his administration seeks to address rising housing costs and declining home availability.

How the plan works

• Find federal lands that are underutilized and suitable for housing projects.
• Make it easier for states, local governments, and housing authorities to obtain land for development.
• Ensure housing remains affordable by setting policies that regulate development costs.

“HUD will determine where housing shortages are most severe, while the DOI will evaluate which lands can be used for homes without harming the environment,” Turner and Burgum wrote in their op-ed.

They also stated that the initiative aims to cut through bureaucratic delays, ensuring that land can be transferred or leased more quickly to developers, public housing authorities, and nonprofit organizations.

“This is not about reckless development on federal land,” the op-ed said. “It is a strategic and careful approach to making land available while protecting natural spaces.”

The announcement comes as Trump’s reelection campaign promotes housing policies that include building on federally owned land. Last month, Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo (R) urged state lawmakers to support the release of federal land for housing.

Although both Democrats and Republicans have previously backed using federal land for housing, past efforts have struggled due to disagreements over which level of government should control the land.

Andrew Jakabovics, a housing policy expert, noted that land use has traditionally been handled at state and local levels rather than by the federal government.

“We usually rely on the private sector to build affordable housing, rather than direct federal intervention,” he said.

The US government owns around 650 million acres of land, but most of it is not suitable for housing due to environmental regulations, terrain challenges, or legal restrictions. Previous attempts to use federal land for housing have largely failed because state and federal officials could not agree on implementation strategies.

Despite these obstacles, Turner and Burgum expressed confidence in the plan, emphasizing its focus on helping communities with severe housing shortages.

“As we enter the Golden Age promised by President Trump, this partnership will change how we use public resources. A brighter future, with more affordable housing, is on its way,” they wrote.