Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 4 days ago
Attempts to sell public lands for housing, such as the effort we saw from Mike Lee in the Big Beautiful Bill, have become mainstream. In addition to Lee's efforts, we have also seen proposals from DOI/HUD, and both major party Presidential candidates have proposed it as well. Clearly, selling public lands for housing has become politically relevant. But, I'm here to tell you that these attempts make no sense. There is basically no scenario where large scale public lands selloffs, such as those we have seen proposed, will make any appreciable difference in solving this country's (very real) housing crisis. In short, we need to be building homes, but not on public lands.
Support me on Patreon: patreon.com/c/nationalparkdiaries
Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/nationalparkdiaries
Follow me on Threads: threads.com/@nationalparkdiaries
Sources and Resources:
DOI/HUD Joint Press Release
doi.gov/pressreleases/icymi-secretary-burgum-hud-secretary-turner-announce-joint-task-force-reduce-housing
National Low Income Housing Coalition - HUD Affordable Housing Cuts
nlihc.org/resource/trump-administration-expected-release-fy26-budget-proposal-slashing-hud-funding-skinny
Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act Sell Off Figures
blm.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2024-07/Quick Facts 7-1-2024.pdf
Center for Geospatial Studies Data Tool
experience.arcgis.com/experience/305f2764a5d8419faaf457009273eec5
Colorado College State of the Rockies Poll
https://www.coloradocollege.edu/other/stateoftherockies/conservationinthewest/2025-poll-data/CC Poll 2025 - National Press Release.pdf
Center for Western Priorities Coverage:
westernpriorities.org/issue/housing-and-public-lands
medium.com/westwise/the-devil-is-in-the-details-when-it-comes-to-building-affordable-housing-on-public-lands-07e25a597652
medium.com/westwise/senator-mike-lees-mcmansion-subsidy-act-will-not-fix-affordable-housing-70b7e505b1b9
medium.com/westwise/the-west-has-an-affordable-housing-crisis-can-public-land-help-9b5411f73ce9
Other Coverage:
‘Exclusive: Rosen introduces Washoe county lands bill years in the making”
thenevadaindependent.com/article/exclusive-rosen-introduces-washoe-county-lands-bill-years-in-the-making
‘Feds agree to streamline public land sale process for affordable housing around Las Vegas’
thenevadaindependent.com/article/feds-agree-to-streamline-public-land-sale-process-for-affordable-housing-around-las-vegas
‘Financing, zoning, not federal land access, are what will expand affordable housing, experts say’
nevadacurrent.com/2024/05/29/financing-zoning-not-federal-land-access-are-what-will-expand-affordable-housing-experts-say
High Country News:
hcn.org/articles/public-lands-for-housing-in-nevada-and-utah-called-giveaway
hcn.org/articles/could-building-on-public-land-address-the-housing-crisis
“Arizona Limits Construction Around Phoenix as its Water Supply Dwindles”
nytimes.com/2023/06/01/climate/arizona-phoenix-permits-housing-water.html
Boston Globe:
bostonglobe.com/2025/05/09/opinion/trump-public-land-housing
ProPublica:
propublica.org/article/utah-mike-lee-public-lands-sell-off
E&E News:
eenews.net/articles/build-housing-on-federal-land-both-harris-and-trump-are-in-favor
Idaho Public Land Selloffs
idahoconservation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/TWS-Report_IDAHOLandSales_5-16.pdf
Reports:
Center for American Progress:
americanprogress.org/article/will-the-u-s-housing-crisis-be-exploited-for-a-massive-public-lands-sell-off
Headwaters Economics:
headwaterseconomics.org/public-lands/wildfire-public-land-housing/?_ga=2.174986402.1252562697.1747687230-244547947.1747687230
891khol.org/public-lands-not-the-solution-to-the-wests-housing-crisis-economists-say
headwaterseconomics.org/natural-hazards/wildfire-insurance-local-state-budgets
Center for Geospatial Solutions:
cgsearth.org/cgs-who-owns-america-government-land-report
YouTube Videos:
youtube.com/watch?v=4gAqY7yzk10
youtube.com/watch?v=0Flsg_mzG-M
youtube.com/watch?v=dU2x0BmFhJI
Images and Music:
Storyblocks
Attempts to sell public lands for housing, such as the effort we saw from Mike Lee in the Big Beautiful Bill, have become mainstream. In addition to Lee's efforts, we have also seen proposals from DOI/HUD, and both major party Presidential candidates have proposed it as well. Clearly, selling public lands for housing has become politically relevant. But, I'm here to tell you that these attempts make no sense. There is basically no scenario where large scale public lands selloffs, such as those we have seen proposed, will make any appreciable difference in solving this country's (very real) housing crisis. In short, we need to be building homes, but not on public lands.
Support me on Patreon: patreon.com/c/nationalparkdiaries
Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/nationalparkdiaries
Follow me on Threads: threads.com/@nationalparkdiaries
Sources and Resources:
DOI/HUD Joint Press Release
doi.gov/pressreleases/icymi-secretary-burgum-hud-secretary-turner-announce-joint-task-force-reduce-housing
National Low Income Housing Coalition - HUD Affordable Housing Cuts
nlihc.org/resource/trump-administration-expected-release-fy26-budget-proposal-slashing-hud-funding-skinny
Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act Sell Off Figures
blm.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2024-07/Quick Facts 7-1-2024.pdf
Center for Geospatial Studies Data Tool
experience.arcgis.com/experience/305f2764a5d8419faaf457009273eec5
Colorado College State of the Rockies Poll
https://www.coloradocollege.edu/other/stateoftherockies/conservationinthewest/2025-poll-data/CC Poll 2025 - National Press Release.pdf
Center for Western Priorities Coverage:
westernpriorities.org/issue/housing-and-public-lands
medium.com/westwise/the-devil-is-in-the-details-when-it-comes-to-building-affordable-housing-on-public-lands-07e25a597652
medium.com/westwise/senator-mike-lees-mcmansion-subsidy-act-will-not-fix-affordable-housing-70b7e505b1b9
medium.com/westwise/the-west-has-an-affordable-housing-crisis-can-public-land-help-9b5411f73ce9
Other Coverage:
‘Exclusive: Rosen introduces Washoe county lands bill years in the making”
thenevadaindependent.com/article/exclusive-rosen-introduces-washoe-county-lands-bill-years-in-the-making
‘Feds agree to streamline public land sale process for affordable housing around Las Vegas’
thenevadaindependent.com/article/feds-agree-to-streamline-public-land-sale-process-for-affordable-housing-around-las-vegas
‘Financing, zoning, not federal land access, are what will expand affordable housing, experts say’
nevadacurrent.com/2024/05/29/financing-zoning-not-federal-land-access-are-what-will-expand-affordable-housing-experts-say
High Country News:
hcn.org/articles/public-lands-for-housing-in-nevada-and-utah-called-giveaway
hcn.org/articles/could-building-on-public-land-address-the-housing-crisis
“Arizona Limits Construction Around Phoenix as its Water Supply Dwindles”
nytimes.com/2023/06/01/climate/arizona-phoenix-permits-housing-water.html
Boston Globe:
bostonglobe.com/2025/05/09/opinion/trump-public-land-housing
ProPublica:
propublica.org/article/utah-mike-lee-public-lands-sell-off
E&E News:
eenews.net/articles/build-housing-on-federal-land-both-harris-and-trump-are-in-favor
Idaho Public Land Selloffs
idahoconservation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/TWS-Report_IDAHOLandSales_5-16.pdf
Reports:
Center for American Progress:
americanprogress.org/article/will-the-u-s-housing-crisis-be-exploited-for-a-massive-public-lands-sell-off
Headwaters Economics:
headwaterseconomics.org/public-lands/wildfire-public-land-housing/?_ga=2.174986402.1252562697.1747687230-244547947.1747687230
891khol.org/public-lands-not-the-solution-to-the-wests-housing-crisis-economists-say
headwaterseconomics.org/natural-hazards/wildfire-insurance-local-state-budgets
Center for Geospatial Solutions:
cgsearth.org/cgs-who-owns-america-government-land-report
YouTube Videos:
youtube.com/watch?v=4gAqY7yzk10
youtube.com/watch?v=0Flsg_mzG-M
youtube.com/watch?v=dU2x0BmFhJI
Images and Music:
Storyblocks
