Policy Trenches: American Federalism and the Politics of Cross-Sectoral Action on Housing and Education Inequality

Abstract The structure of federalism in the United States links housing and education policy issues in significant ways. However, institutional frictions can make it challenging for policymakers to engage in “cross-sector” policy efforts that impact multiple policy areas at once. Further, decentralization means that it is difficult to measure policymaking attention across the US system, particularly at the local level. In this article, we use a mix of methods to measure cross-sector policy attention to education and housing policy at the federal, state, and local levels between 2014 and 2024. We find that cross-sector attention has been limited and inconsistent at all levels, and appears mostly in Democratic administrations and areas. Overall, we conclude that federal instability and local capacity challenges mean state action, such as ongoing work in New Jersey and Minnesota, may be the most promising avenues for cross-sector action to address spatial inequalities in the immediate future.