Land Manager Housing and Workforce Improvement Act of 2025

This bill aims to improve worker housing and hiring for federal parks and public lands. It covers the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Forest Service . It lets the Park Service get up to 20 acres of land near a park (outside the park boundary) to build or run staff housing; the agency can manage and lease that land, and if it’s no longer needed, sell it and use the money for housing . The Park Service can also use rent from employee housing to develop, build, maintain, and operate more housing, not just repairs. The Forest Service gets more flexibility to use buildings and to dispose of some sites with at least two competitive bids, which can help move projects along. Agencies can partner more easily with states, Tribes, and towns next to parks to co-manage areas, share offices, trade services, and assign employees, while keeping federal control of park units. Private support can include cash, services, and materials for workforce housing projects.

To strengthen the workforce, agencies may directly hire qualified local residents for some jobs, and the Park Service can rehire seasonal workers more easily across major parts of the agency; these powers last through September 30, 2030 . Within 18 months, Interior and Agriculture must report on agency housing needs, nearby private housing markets, and how vacation rentals affect costs and supply; GAO must study how federal rules affect worker housing and suggest fixes, and agencies then have a year to carry out the administrative fixes. The report work includes looking at housing and commute times in nearby “gateway” communities and other local towns . If Agriculture gives emergency subsistence to employees, it must quickly report the reasons and costs, with OMB review and exceptions for disasters.

Key points

• Who is affected: Workers and communities tied to the Park Service, BLM, Fish and Wildlife Service, and Forest Service.
• What changes: Park Service can get up to 20 acres off-park for staff housing; rent money can fund building and operating housing; Forest Service site rules are updated; agencies can partner with states/Tribes/towns; private gifts can include cash and services; easier hiring of local residents and rehiring of seasonal workers; required studies on housing markets, vacation rentals, and commuting in gateway communities .
• When: Reports are due within 18 months, agencies have one year after the GAO report to act, and certain hiring authorities end on September 30, 2030 .