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U.S. Launches Initiative to Develop Affordable Housing on Federal Lands

HUD and Interior announce task force to identify underutilized federal properties, aiming to address the nation's 7 million affordable home shortfall.

U.S. President Donald Trump answers reporters' questions while hosting Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin in the Oval Office at the White House on March 12, 2025, in Washington, DC.
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The Interior Department and Department of Housing and Urban Development will partner to assess the nation’s housing needs and identify “underutilized” land suitable for development, the heads of the two agencies announced in a video. Seen here are Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, center, accompanied by U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg, left and Energy Secretary Chris Wright on March 13, 2025.(Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
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Overview

  • HUD Secretary Scott Turner and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced the creation of the Joint Task Force on Federal Land for Housing to address the housing affordability crisis.
  • The initiative will inventory underutilized federal lands, streamline regulatory processes, and transfer properties to state and local governments for residential development.
  • The plan prioritizes affordability, ensuring new housing developments remain accessible to low- and middle-income families.
  • The Department of the Interior oversees over 500 million acres of federal land, much of which is concentrated in areas facing severe housing shortages.
  • This bipartisan effort builds on previous initiatives, including President Biden’s 2024 affordable housing program, and reflects growing public concern over housing costs.