Trump Administration Forms Task Force to Identify Federal Land for Housing
The Trump administration announced plans to address America’s housing shortage by creating a task force to identify federal land suitable for affordable housing development, in what could become one of the most ambitious housing proposals in US history.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner will jointly lead the initiative, which aims to assess “underutilized” portions of the 650 million acres of federally owned land — roughly a quarter of all US territory.
“Working together, our agencies can take inventory of underused federal properties, transfer or lease them to states or localities to address housing needs, and support the infrastructure required to make development viable — all while ensuring affordability remains at the core of the mission,” the secretaries wrote in a Wall Street Journal editorial announcing the plan.
A preliminary analysis by the American Enterprise Institute, a center-right think tank in Washington, D.C., suggests developing just 512,000 acres of Bureau of Land Management land could yield between three and four million new homes across western states, potentially addressing a significant portion of the nation’s housing shortage of more than seven million units.
The initiative has gained some bipartisan support. Democratic Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii called it “a good idea,” but cautioned, “the problem with housing policy is that politicians want a magic housing button that they can press. And that’s not how this works.” Former President Joe Biden similarly pursued federal land use for housing, announcing in early 2024 the sale of 20 acres at $100 per acre, below market value, to build 210 affordable homes in Nevada.
Housing experts note significant challenges ahead. Only about 7.3% of federal land falls within metropolitan areas experiencing housing shortages, according to an analysis of government land maps and housing data. Markets like Salt Lake City and Las Vegas, where housing shortages overlap with abundant federal land, could benefit most.
“Finding developable, desirable land for cheap is the holy grail of home building,” said Jim Tobin, President of the National Association of Home Builders, while noting the plan will likely face local opposition, infrastructure limitations, and environmental concerns.
The task force will transfer or lease suitable parcels to public housing authorities, nonprofits, or local governments, with occasional sales to private developers determined case by case in coordination with local officials.
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