CARSON CITY, Nevada — Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo has called for the inclusion of Nevada representatives on a newly formed federal task force aimed at addressing housing shortages through the use of federal lands. In a letter sent this week to U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner, Lombardo commended the launch of the Joint Task Force on Federal Land for Housing while emphasizing the unique challenges faced by his state.
The Joint Task Force, announced recently by the Biden administration, seeks to explore innovative solutions to the nation’s housing crisis by identifying federal lands that could be repurposed for residential development. The initiative comes as housing affordability and availability remain pressing issues across the United States, particularly in states like Nevada, where federal land ownership dominates the landscape.
In his letter, Governor Lombardo highlighted the critical role federal land management plays in Nevada’s housing challenges. “As you know, more than 85% of Nevada’s land is managed by the federal government,” he wrote. “This significantly limits our ability to expand housing availability, since growth is stifled by the lack of land available for development.” The governor’s statement underscores a long-standing issue for Nevada, where the vast majority of land is controlled by agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management, leaving little room for private development or state-led housing projects.
Lombardo went on to request that Nevada stakeholders be given a seat at the table as the task force takes shape. “As your agencies stand up the Task Force, I hope you will consider including stakeholders from Nevada,” he urged. “Our lands experts, housing partners, and local governments stand ready to assist and support you.” The governor’s plea reflects a desire to ensure that Nevada’s specific needs and expertise are factored into any federal decisions that could impact the state’s future growth.
Nevada’s housing market has faced mounting pressure in recent years, driven by population growth, a booming tourism industry, and limited developable land. Cities like Las Vegas and Reno have seen skyrocketing home prices and rental costs, pushing many residents—particularly low- and middle-income families—out of the market. Advocates for housing reform in the state have long argued that unlocking federal lands for development could be a game-changer, provided it is done thoughtfully and with local input.
The Joint Task Force on Federal Land for Housing is expected to bring together federal officials, urban planners, and housing experts to evaluate parcels of land nationwide. While the initiative has been hailed as a bold step toward addressing the housing crisis, some critics have raised concerns about environmental impacts and the potential for overdevelopment in sensitive areas. For Nevada, where much of the federal land is arid desert, any plans would also need to account for water scarcity and infrastructure challenges.
Governor Lombardo’s letter marks an early effort to shape the task force’s direction and ensure that Nevada’s voice is heard. Neither the Department of the Interior nor the Department of Housing and Urban Development has yet responded publicly to the governor’s request. However, with the task force still in its formative stages, there may be room for states like Nevada to play a significant role in its work.