The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) should prioritize funding water projects for local governments that would expand the production of new housing in their service areas if given the water resources to do so.
The federal government should remove housing tax benefits for all landowners in cities that refuse to build housing at a necessary pace.
We propose that the federal government use highway funding as a legal mechanism to force states to adopt zoning reform.
The programs meant to create housing abundance have instead created a complex network of paperwork that is redundant, rigid, and discouraging.
The good news is that the tools, data, and proof of concept all exist today; what is needed now is for the federal government to build, or fund the creation of, a National Housing Policy Simulator.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) should designate or hire at least one career staff member to work on housing supply and land use as their primary responsibility.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) could speed the adoption of mass timber through grants that incentivize state and local governments to adopt the latest IBC codes.
Incentivizing organizations to use their profits to build more housing will enable the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) to create much more housing in the long term.
Congress and HUD should expand the Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) to fund external enforcement organizations.
When federal agencies need expert input, they look to advice from external experts and interested citizens through a series of public engagement mechanisms, from public meetings to public comment.
FAS introduces a cohort of over 20 experts from our Extreme Heat Policy Challenge to develop high-impact policy recommendations that comprehensively address the extreme heat crisis.
“Permitting reform” may not sound sexy, but it is critical if the federal government wants to meet its clean energy and climate goals.