On March 17, 2025, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner and Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Doug Burgum announced the formation of the Joint Task Force on Federal Land for Housing. This new initiative aims to address the mounting housing affordability crisis by identifying underutilized federal lands suitable for residential development and streamlining land transfer processes.
The formation of the task force was disclosed during a social media broadcast as well as through an op-ed published in The Wall Street Journal. Both Turner and Burgum emphasized the need for additional affordable housing options, noting, "HUD will pinpoint where housing needs are most pressing and guide the process by working with state and local leaders who know their communities best." This partnership is seen as a response to the concerns raised by voters about rising home prices—a sentiment underscored by recent polling data.
A Pew Research Center survey conducted in October 2024 revealed stark statistics, showing 69 percent of voters were "very concerned" about home prices, indicating significant anxiety about housing costs. This figure reflects an increase of 8 percentage points from the previous April. Addressing this issue has become increasingly urgent for policymakers, with past efforts falling short due to various bureaucratic challenges.
According to Secretary Burgum, "This partnership will identify underutilized federal lands suitable for residential development and streamline the land transfer process." The federal government holds approximately 650 million acres of land, representing about 20 percent of America’s landmass—an untapped resource Turner and Burgum argue could significantly alleviate the housing crisis.
The op-ed sheds light on how the task force plans to operate, stating, "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 whilst ensuring affordability remains at the core of the mission." This multifaceted approach seeks not only to increase the availability of homes but to protect and conserve the environment as well.
The announcement aligns with broader shifts within political circles aimed at addressing housing shortages. Both Republican and Democratic leaders have acknowledged the need for federal involvement, with some advocating for the sale of federal lands to facilitate the development of affordable housing. Turner and Burgum anticipate overcoming historical obstacles by streamlining procedures and reducing bureaucratic entanglements, which they described as "a nightmare of red tape—lengthy environmental reviews, complex transfer protocols, and disjointed agency priorities." They are committed to altering this dynamic.
Prominent urban areas, especially those experiencing rapid population growth, will be prioritized for development. Experts suggest the focus might be on federal land surrounding cities like Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Salt Lake City. A preliminary analysis conducted by the conservative think tank, American Enterprise Institute, estimates substantial potential output: housing developments on just 512,000 acres of federal land could yield between three to four million new homes.
The task force's primary objective is to alleviate the concern surrounding housing shortages head-on. "We need 7 million affordable homes in America," Turner pointed out, leveraging public sentiment and existing demand for affordable housing. With economic pressures and the growing worry over home prices, the urgency for such initiatives has reached new heights, making it clear why Turner and Burgum are enthusiastic about their plans.
Nevertheless, past efforts at using federal land for housing construction have often met with mixed results due to complications between state and federal entities. Critics of the plan worry about the viability of such initiatives. Andrew Jakabovics, vice president for policy development at Enterprise Community Partners, articulated this concern, stating, "Land use has largely been seen as a state and local issue... even the way we build affordable housing right is through incentivizing the private sector to build right with targeted affordability.”
Acknowledging this history, Turner and Burgum recognized the potential skepticism surrounding their plans, insisting, "This isn’t a free-for-all to build on federal lands... It’s a strategic effort to use our resources responsibly." They believe it is imperative to responsibly utilize these public resources, and they reiterated their commitment to safeguarding America’s natural beauty.
With bipartisan endorsements highlighting the political stakes involved, leaders hope this initiative could signal newfound cooperation and resolve around the housing crisis. The timing of this announcement parallels the Trump Administration’s promises during the election to mobilize federal authorities to tackle the acute housing shortage. Burgum’s and Turner’s commitment to deliver on this plan could not only change the housing narrative but also signal broader government functionality at various levels.
What remains to be seen is whether these joint efforts prove successful at surmounting historical barriers to federal involvement, thereby providing much-needed affordable housing within the next several years. The American public watches closely as these developments may set precedents for future collaborative initiatives aimed at addressing national challenges.
