Federal Preservation Funding in Crisis: Your Action is Needed Now

Our nation’s historic preservation efforts are facing an urgent, unprecedented challenge that requires a swift, united response. The Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) – the backbone of federal support for state, tribal, and local preservation work – is at risk on two critical fronts: delays in current funding and deep cuts in future allocations.

The Immediate Threats

1. FY25 Funding Delayed: Congress has yet to release FY2025 HPF funding, creating severe operational challenges for State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPOs), Tribal Historic Preservation Offices (THPOs), and Certified Local Governments (CLGs). This delay is halting preservation planning, archaeological surveys, National Register nominations, tax credit projects, and more. It directly affects you and your communities.

2. FY26 Budget Cuts Proposed: The proposed federal budget for FY2026 includes a $158 million cut to the HPF – essentially eliminating it. This is the most significant threat to historic preservation in over 40 years. If enacted, the cuts will devastate preservation efforts nationwide, from small-town Main Streets to large-scale urban revitalization initiatives.

Why It Matters

The HPF is not funded by taxpayer dollars – it comes from offshore oil and gas lease revenues. It supports:

• SHPOs and THPOs that oversee local and statewide preservation

• CLG grants that give communities a voice in protecting local landmarks

• National Register listings that provide both recognition and protection

• Archaeological surveys that uncover and protect Indigenous and historical sites

• Public education and training to build the next generation of preservation advocates

Preservation drives economic development, creates skilled jobs, and fosters cultural identity through heritage tourism, downtown revitalization, and adaptive reuse projects.

What You Can Do — This Week

Your outreach now can help preserve the HPF:

1. Contact Congress:

• Ask them to release FY25 HPF funding without further delay.

• Urge them to fully fund the HPF in FY26. The Senate still has an opportunity to reject the House’s proposed cuts.

2. Use Your Voice:

• Call Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego and your Representative – calls have a strong impact.

• Send personalized emails or letters.

• Engage on social media using #ProtectAZSHPO, #PreservationMatters, and #HistoricPreservationFund.

• Mobilize your networks – forward this alert to board members, partners, and community stakeholders.

Find contact info at Congress.gov or call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.

Sample Message You Can Use

“Hello, my name is [Your Name] from [Your City, AZ]. I’m contacting you to express deep concern about the proposed elimination of the Historic Preservation Fund in the FY26 budget and the ongoing delay in FY25 HPF funding.

The HPF is essential – not only to the preservation of America’s cultural heritage but to our economy and infrastructure. These funds [provide local examples]:

• Support jobs and heritage tourism

• Fund affordable housing through adaptive reuse

• Back crucial public infrastructure projects

Please release FY25 funding immediately and fully fund the HPF in FY26. The future of our shared historic and cultural landscape depends on it. Thank you.”

Stay Engaged

Beyond this urgent advocacy:

• Schedule visits with local Congressional offices during recesses.

• Join national preservation advocacy days.

• Collaborate with partners in housing, tourism, and economic development.

Report Back

Let us know what outreach you’ve done and how offices respond. We’re tracking collective impact and planning coordinated follow-up. Together, we are the voice for the places that cannot speak for themselves. Thank you for standing up for Arizona’s – and America’s – historic places.

More Advocacy Tools for You

Click on the following links for additional resources for you to learn more about historic preservation in the U.S. and to personalize your message locally:

• Arizona Preservation Foundation: Backgrounder on the "Imminent Threat to the Arizona State Historic Preservation Office," May 16, 2025.

• National Trust for Historic Preservation - Action Center: Legislative updates, action alerts, and advocacy toolkits

• Preservation Action: Comprehensive federal preservation policy resources and legislative tracking

• National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers (NCSHPO): State-specific HPF impact data and advocacy materials

• National Park Service - Historic Preservation Fund: Official HPF program information and funding details

• National Alliance of Preservation Commissions: A resource for information on how the loss of HPF funding will impact local preservation programs

• Map of NPS Grants: A resource for finding examples of where HPF grants have been awarded in Arizona and elsewhere

• Novogradac Historic Tax Credit Mapping Tool: A resource for finding where Federal Rehabilitation Tax Credits. which require SHPO staff review, have been used in Arizona and elsewhere