Selling Federal Land to Address Housing Crisis: Sen. Mike Lee & Sec. Doug Burgum

Federal Land and the Housing Crisis

• 🎯 Federal land control is a significant issue in western states like Utah, where the government owns about two-thirds of the land.
• 💡 Sen. Mike Lee proposes making a small percentage of underused federal land available to address housing affordability.
• 🔑 The idea is supported by President Trump's calls to use unused federal land and a joint HUD-Interior task force.

Land Sales as a Solution

• 💰 A fraction of 1% of unused federal land could help alleviate the western housing crisis.
• 📈 Selling just 41 acres in Southern Nevada generated $16.75 million for the federal government.
• 🏘️ An 80-acre parcel near Las Vegas, not designated for recreation or conservation, is being sold for affordable housing development.
• 🤝 Federal land swaps, like those in Utah, can free up land for more productive state use and help fill in checkerboard federal wilderness areas.

Federal Land Value and Maintenance

• 📊 Approximately 250,000 acres of federal land are located within a few miles of cities with populations of 5,000 or more.
• ⚠️ The Department of the Interior faces a significant maintenance backlog, estimated at over $33 billion.
• ✅ Selling federal lands strategically can generate revenue to address deferred maintenance and improve recreational and educational opportunities.
• 🏞️ Revenue from land sales can fund improvements like new visitor centers at BLM land and Hoover Dam.