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Housing

Does the White House Need a ‘Zoning Czar’?

As it tries to marshal bipartisan support for lifting barriers to housing, the Biden administration should consider a permanent office devoted to overcoming exclusionary zoning. 

HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge (second from left) tours an affordable apartment complex in Alexandria, Virginia, in August 2021. 

HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge (second from left) tours an affordable apartment complex in Alexandria, Virginia, in August 2021. 

Photographer: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images

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In his time in office so far, President Joe Biden has tried to address the stubborn US housing crisis by fighting for more money. The White House worked to speed up the release of tens of billions of dollars in emergency pandemic rent relief, federal dollars that are now mostly spent. Biden and allies also negotiated tens of billions more in support for public housing and rental vouchers, although these funds were ultimately blocked in Congress.

Now, with inflation high and apartment vacancies at record lows, new spending is off the table. So the White House has pivoted to a different strategy: expanding the supply of available homes.