Americans have consistently expressed housing as their most significant financial concern, especially considering the current housing market conditions. President Trump’s promise to make federal lands available for housing development must be realized to address the housing affordability crisis.

The vast expanse of federal lands can provide middle- and lower-income citizens with the opportunity to own homes, given that the federal government holds a substantial amount of land across the nation. Initiatives like “Freedom Cities” and proposals to sell federal lands are entering the mainstream policy discourse.

Leasing federal lands for housing development instead of selling them allows for faster and smoother navigations through regulatory requirements. By avoiding state and local regulations applicable to privatized lands, affordable homes can be made available to a broader range of individuals.

Updating federal land-use laws to allow for housing development on federal leases is essential. This could be similar to the 1862 New Homestead Act that aimed to ensure every poor individual could have a home. Building homes on leased federal lands is a strategy to promote more affordable homeownership and ensure protections for buyers through transferable 99-year leases with capped rent increases.

Allowing new home construction on leased public lands could alleviate the scarcity of single-family homes in the market. The outdated focus on urban density should shift towards providing housing in suburban areas, catering to consumer preferences and relieving the housing shortage across the country.

Not only would this strategy make homeownership more accessible, but it would also appeal to a broader demographic, including groups that traditionally lean towards conservative policies. The success of federal land development initiatives could influence the public perception of the administration, particularly among younger and more diverse voters.