President Trump is scheduled to sign an executive order today that will create a federal-level group to study the obstructionist practices of local governments and the potential for a federal response.

[Updated August 19, 2019]
[Update: Planetizen has gathered additional news coverage of the new White House Council on Eliminating Regulatory Barriers to Affordable Housing in a separate article, published on June 26, 2019.]
[Update: the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has published a press release to announce the creation of the White House Council on Eliminating Regulatory Barriers to Affordable Housing via executive order signed on June 25, 2019.]
"The Trump administration will explore using federal programs to push local governments to soften or eliminate rules that block housing construction, an issue that has stymied officials at all levels of government for years," according to an article by Laura Kusisto.
"President Trump is expected to sign an order Tuesday creating the White House Council on Eliminating Barriers to Affordable Housing Development [sic], which will include members of eight federal agencies," adds Kusisto.
Kusisto notes the limitations of federal power in overturning local land use regulations, but the council will "produce a study quantifying the effect of regulations on the housing market and the U.S. economy as a whole." Kusisto references "The State of the Nation's Housing" report, published today by the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University to describe the current housing market in context of today's actions by the Trump administration.
In attendance at the signing will be U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, who has "made easing barriers for the private sector to build housing the signature issue of his tenure as HUD secretary," according to Kusisto (as well as several articles in the Planetizen archive).
The news about the Trump administration taking this additional step against local control of land use regulations comes shortly after Republican Senator Todd Young of Indiana introduced the "Yes In My Back Yard Act," which would leverage Community Development Block Grants to hold city's accountable for their housing policies.
FULL STORY: Trump Administration to Take on Local Housing Barriers [paywall]

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents
The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing
Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive
Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie