Public Land Use for Housing Key Issue in Interior Pick’s Hearing

President Donald Trump’s nominee for deputy Interior secretary, Katherine MacGregor, told senators Wednesday that she wants the federal government to more efficiently use federal land for housing.

Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) asked MacGregor during her confirmation hearing in front of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee whether she thinks housing is a “public purpose” for federal land. MacGregor said it could be.

Using federal land for housing is a priority for Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, who in March announced a joint task force with the Department of Housing and Urban Development focused on selling federal land in order to ...