HUD, DOI to Use Federal Land to Build Affordable Housing 

The HUD and DOI launched a joint task force to explore using underutilized federal land for affordable housing, aiming to ease the housing crisis, as reported by GlobeSt.

Tackling The Shortage

In a new initiative to address the nation’s affordable housing crisis, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of the Interior (DOI) are teaming up to repurpose underutilized federal land for residential development.

HUD Secretary Scott Turner and DOI Secretary Doug Burgum announced the plan in an opinion piece in The Wall Street Journal, outlining how the agencies will collaborate to expand housing supply.

The joint task force will identify land suitable for housing while balancing environmental and land-use considerations.

• DOI, which oversees more than 500M acres of federal land, will work to expedite land transfers or leases.
• HUD will coordinate with state and local governments to ensure projects meet affordability standards and community needs.

How Much Housing?

According to estimates from the American Enterprise Institute, allocating just 512K acres of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land could support the construction of 3M–4M homes in western states. 

While this potential is significant, experts caution that land availability alone is not enough to drive large-scale development.

“Freeing up federal land for more housing—I think it’s a good idea,” said Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI). “But the problem with housing policy is that politicians want a magic housing button that they can press. And that’s not how this works.”

Development Obstacles

While federal land access could provide a crucial boost to the housing supply, several challenges remain. Infrastructure investments in roads, utilities, and public transportation will be necessary, especially in more remote areas.

Additionally, local zoning laws, permitting processes, and community opposition to affordable housing developments could slow progress.

A Wall Street Journal analysis found that only 7.3% of all federal land—about 47M acres—is located within metro areas facing housing shortages. Even in areas where land is available, development will depend on proximity to jobs, retail centers, and essential services.

Looking Ahead

HUD and DOI’s initiative is a significant step toward boosting affordable housing stock, but its success will depend on cooperation across federal, state, and local levels.

Policymakers must address zoning hurdles, infrastructure needs, and environmental concerns to unlock the full potential of this land for housing.

With housing costs continuing to rise, the ability to develop federal land efficiently could play a pivotal role in shaping the nation’s response to the affordability crisis.