What's Next for Housing Policy?

This blog post was created in collaboration with the 2025 Trend Report for Planners and APA's Trend Talk Series. The 2025 Trend Report features over 100 trends the APA Foresight team identified. The Trend Talk Series complements the annual report by providing additional monthly insights to help planners navigate and shape the future of the profession.

The complexity of the housing solutions is no news to planners, as the nation's housing shortage continues to face underproduction and an overall housing shortage. The call for comprehensive solutions has been echoed in communities nationwide, and federal support plays an integral role in zoning and land use reform.

Election 2024 brings to Washington unified Republican control of the White House and Congress. While Republicans will control the legislative and executive branches, they will do so with thin congressional majorities that will complicate governing.

Pending deadlines for the new Congress put a variety of key policy issues on the table, including an interest in housing. While congressional action may prove to be difficult, the Trump administration will create a new course of regulatory action.

Bipartisan Housing Action Takes Stage

Housing policy stands out as both a nationally prominent priority and an area of potential bipartisanship. That rhetoric came as nearly two dozen states enacted laws aimed at housing supply and several bipartisan federal proposals continued to gain traction. As the new administration and 119th Congress take office, there's a strong existing foundation for action on housing and support for planning-led reforms.

In Congress last year, the Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) new Pathway to Remove Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing) grants received a new round of funding to support locally led zoning reform efforts. Legislative proposals to make HUD a strong partner for local reforms through models, frameworks, and research saw bipartisan support.

The Republicans who will take gavels of the committees responsible for housing — Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) at the Banking Committee and Rep. French Hill (R-AR) at the Financial Services Committee — brought forward housing proposals aimed at tackling issues to expand housing options, such as modular and manufactured housing. Other bills aimed at making housing reforms a factor in infrastructure grants and identifying regulatory barriers in the consolidated planning process.

Trump Administration on Housing

During the first Trump administration, an executive order was issued directing HUD to examine how to eliminate regulatory barriers to housing supply and affordability. This suggests there are proponents of federal support for housing supply reforms in the incoming administration.

At the same time, there are conflicting voices among Republicans with some urging deregulatory action to spur building while others caution against any federal role that might limit local authority. One key area to watch as the new administration takes shape will be which side has the upper hand.

Looking Ahead to Solutions

While it is easy to find bipartisan agreement on the fact of a housing crisis, it is undeniably harder to find a similar consensus on how to address it. Despite the challenge, the new order in Washington has a strong foundation for action. Finding funding for unauthorized programs like PRO Housing will be difficult on Capitol Hill, but areas like tax policy, incentives, linkage to infrastructure, rural and manufactured housing, and support for local action may be among the few areas with bipartisan appeal.

APA calls on Congress and the Trump administration to act on critical housing and development needs. Through both fiscal and policy changes, the federal government can ensure that pro-housing legislation and tools make a local impact in communities of all sizes. Through federal action, an increase in diverse housing options will create housing abundance and affordability throughout the nation.

Top image: iStock - Jeremy Poland