Across the United States, a housing shortage is reaching critical levels. Between 2021 and 2022, the U.S. fell short by 4.5 million homes while families grew by 1.8 million, according to LiveNow from FOX. Escalating costs, supply chain disruptions, and zoning bottlenecks have made affordable homeownership feel out of reach, especially for the younger generation.
But what if the solution isn’t just more homes—what if it’s entirely new cities?
Here’s the concept of Freedom Cities, a revolutionary plan to build high-density, modular urban centers on federal land across the arid Western United States. Driven by bipartisan urgency, modern technology, and the rethinking of outdated regulations, Freedom Cities offers a vision of sustainability, affordability, and opportunity.
A Bipartisan Wake-Up Call
Both the White House and the Republican National Committee agree on one powerful idea: surplus federal land could be the key to solving the housing crisis. But this isn’t just about selling land, but about entitling it. That means removing bureaucratic barriers that slow development and enabling efficient housing projects to begin where needed.
Local zoning issues and environmental opposition have historically stood in the way of large-scale housing reform. Freedom Cities would work around this by building from the federal level up, offering a way to sidestep red tape and implement next-gen urban planning with modern needs in mind.
Modular Housing: The Future is Factory-Built
Freedom Cities reimagine homebuilding. Just like Henry Ford changed the car industry with the assembly line, modular construction promises to do the same for housing. By producing homes in controlled environments—factories and then transporting and assembling them on-site, we reduce cost, waste, and delay.
Projects like 6th Street Place in Los Angeles, which houses formerly homeless individuals, have already proven the speed and affordability of this approach. Built in Idaho and shipped to LA, these homes are a powerful proof-of-concept.
The Ideal Geography: BLM Lands in the Arid West
Nearly one-third of the U.S. is federally owned, with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) overseeing about 381,875 square miles, mainly in the arid West. Often flat, dry, and uninhabited, these lands are ideal for high-density developments that respect nature while efficiently using space.
Think vertical: 32-story modular skyscrapers assembled like massive LEGO blocks. Or smaller, village-style cities built around mixed-use foundations, housing stacked above retail and parking spaces. These models create compact cities with minimal environmental impact.
Water: The Critical Challenge
Legendary geologist John Wesley Powell once warned that water in the arid West should never be separated from land policy. And he was right.
Freedom Cities must embrace Advanced Wastewater Reclamation Systems (AWWRS) to survive. With 90% of indoor water reclaimable and systems like NASA’s reclaiming 98% on the ISS, sustainable water use isn’t science fiction, it’s science fact. By reclaiming water locally, these cities reduce reliance on costly, outdated water infrastructure and support both residents and surrounding agriculture.
Selection Matters: Building Where it Works
Ideal Freedom City sites must meet several criteria:
- Proximity to existing roads, rail, and utilities
- Location near rivers or groundwater sources
- High potential for water reclamation and local agriculture
- Access to electrical and natural gas transmission lines
- Underserved regional airports and commercial corridors
These cities should rise in valleys covered with sage and dry grasses, where aquifers lie below, and connectivity can be enhanced.
Freedom, Equity, and Opportunity
The goal isn’t just to build homes but to build lives. Freedom Cities would serve veterans, youth, working-class families, and any American willing to relocate for a better life. These cities could restore the economic ladder’s bottom rungs—offering shelter and opportunity.
The NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) mentality, once necessary for fighting pollution and corporate abuse, has now become a barrier to progress. Today’s crisis requires saying “yes” to smart growth, sustainability, and equitable access to housing.
Final Thoughts: A Better Future, Block by Block!
Freedom Cities aren’t just an idea but are a call to action. We can solve America’s housing shortage by combining technology, federal land access, and economic foresight with sustainable, scalable solutions.
Let’s build upward. Let’s build smarter. Let’s build the future of America together.