• President Immediately Issues Executive Orders Impacting Historic Preservation

    February 04, 2025

    A Message from Carol Quillen, President & CEO, National Trust for Historic Preservation

    In the past several days, President Trump’s Administration has issued a number of directives whose broad language reaches across many areas of preservation work. National Trust staff are working to understand the implications of these directives. This will take time, and we expect further clarification from the administration. As we learn more, we will share information with you.

    In the meantime, our work continues, with you as our trusted partners, supporters, and friends. Together, we activate the power of historic places to serve the public good, improve people’s lives, and enable a shared future in which all people can thrive. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to that work.

    President Trump Immediately Issues Executive Orders Impacting Historic Preservation

    By the National Trust Government Relations Team
    Current as of February 4, 2025

    On day one of his return to the Oval Office, President Trump signed a series of executive orders that have significant implications for historic preservation and environmental policy.

    The executive orders address a broad scope of activities, but several in particular directly affect historic preservation efforts.

    These include Promoting Beautiful Federal Civic Architecture, that seeks to advance a policy that federal public buildings should be identifiable as civic buildings and respect regional, traditional, and classical architectural heritage, and Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday, the purpose of which is to celebrate America’s Semiquincentennial and to honor the history of the nation. In addition to creating a White House Task Force (Task Force 250) headed by the Department of Defense, the executive order reinstates past efforts to establish a National Garden of American Heroes. The order also seeks to protect America’s monuments from vandalism and cites recent pro-Hamas-related vandalism to specific sites in Washington, D.C.

    President Trump also issued an executive order declaring a National Energy Emergency, which seeks to increase domestic energy production by expediting review and approval of energy generation projects.

    This executive order threatens to disrupt efforts to balance energy development with the protection of historic and natural landscapes, potentially endangering culturally significant sites and the broader environment.

    This declaration halts offshore wind leasing and freezes federal agency approvals for new or renewed wind energy projects. It also includes language placing a temporary moratorium on the wind project in Lava Ridge, Idaho due to potential impacts on the landscape for which the Idaho congressional delegation and preservation advocates have expressed concerns. The proposed project was near the Minidoka National Historic Site, which prompted it to be on the National Trust’s America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places list in 2022.

    In week two of President Trump’s second term, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a memo to Federal Agencies ordering a temporary pause of agency grant, loan, and financial assistance programs pending a review to determine if federal financial assistance programs align with the Trump Administration’s priorities.

    While the OMB memo was quickly rescinded, the Historic Preservation Fund and the federal historic tax credit were specifically referenced as requiring review.

    As of January 31, a second federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump Administration’s freeze on federal aid funding, siding with 22 states that argued against the directive.

    The executive orders and the freeze on federal spending continue to create uncertainty around the future implementation of historic preservation programs.

    As the Trump Administration’s policy agenda comes into more specific focus, we will continue to support preservation priorities and work to ensure that historic and environmental protections are not weakened.

    Stay connected with us with our frequent online posts as we continue to track these developments and sign up for our monthly advocacy newsletter, which will provide you with the updates from the Hill on historic preservation and include opportunities to take action whenever historic places are threatened.

  • Wishing Preservation Advocates Well in 2025

    January 08, 2025


    Congress concluded its legislative activities before the December 20th government funding deadline in dramatic fashion as efforts to extend funding came down to the wire.

    Washington received a preview of the funding challenges to come when President-elect Trump objected to the proposed funding package negotiated by the Republican-controlled House and the Democrat-controlled Senate.

    House and Senate leaders then quickly negotiated a smaller funding package to avert a government shutdown and fund the government through March 14, 2025. The funding package extends government funding at fiscal year 2025 levels, provides important aid to the nation’s farmers, and extends Farm Bill authorizations for another year.

    Amid the challenging political debate around government funding, there is positive news for historic preservation.

    As part of the disaster assistance package, there was bipartisan agreement about providing $50 million in supplemental disaster assistance funding through the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF).

    In early December, the National Trust and preservation partners led a letter to House and Senate leadership (PDF) urging funding to support historic resources damaged by natural disasters.

    This supplemental HPF funding recognizes the important role historic preservation plays in strengthening community resilience and maintaining cultural heritage.

    In the coming weeks, Washington will transition to a new Administration and Congress. Historic preservation advocates will have a renewed opportunity to demonstrate how historic preservation addresses critical national priorities like the ability to promote economic development, enhance national identity, advance sustainable development, and foster cultural engagement.

    Ahead of the nation’s 250th Anniversary, advocates will be called to support the National Historic Preservation Act and demonstrate how historic preservation is solutions-oriented, creates jobs, and leads to community revitalization.

    Educating policymakers about the ways the preservation movement recognizes and honors our diverse cultural heritage is a critical policy objective as the nation reflects on our past and charts our future.

    Advocates are encouraged to share their preservation success stories which would not be possible without robust preservation policies in place. How has your community benefitted from the more than $180 million in grant funding appropriated from the Historic Preservation Fund? How are historic tax credits helping spur revitalization efforts in your community? How have legislative efforts to preserve your community’s history enhanced our learning and understanding?

    The National Trust’s Government Relations team looks forward to providing the preservation community with detailed policy updates each month through our newsletter, and we will continue our collaboration with Preservation Forum to address critical issues through our webinar series and written commentary.

    As we begin the new year, our focus remains on fostering collaboration and ensuring that historic preservation priorities are front and center amidst the evolving political landscape. The coming months will be pivotal, and we look forward to working with our allies to maximize these opportunities and protect our shared history

  • 3 Ways to Engage with Your Legislators this Winter Holiday

    December 20, 2024

    Your advocacy for historic preservation priorities can be very effective over the winter holidays, and here are three ways to engage with your federal decisionmakers over the next few weeks:

    1. Most members of Congress send out a regular newsletter to their constituents. Sign up for newsletters from your U.S. Representative and your U.S. Senators to learn more about what their priorities are, what legislation they’ve sponsored, and if they will be hosting any upcoming town hall discussions. Don’t know who represents you?
      1. Enter your zip code on https://www.house.gov to find your U.S. Representative.
      2. Select your state on https://www.senate.gov/states/statesmap.htm to find your U.S. Senators.
    2. Take action from home by visiting our Action Center. You can send personalized messages to your Congressional delegation about current preservation priorities including the Historic Preservation Fund, the Historic Tax Credit, National Historic Trail Designation for Route 66, and more!
    3. Invite your elected officials to visit a local historic site that’s important to you and your community.
  • Looking Ahead: New Year, New Congress

    November 27, 2024

    Why Do Old Places Matter Exterior of the U.S. Capitol Building

    photo by: Architect of the Capitol

    Looking to the new year and the nation’s Semiquincentennial the following year, our shared mission of protecting and celebrating our nation’s historic resources remains as important as ever.

    With the 2024 election behind us and political change on the horizon, we have important work to do in the days ahead.

    As the President-elect assumes office and a new Congress takes shape, policy makers need to hear how protecting the stories of the past provide the foundation for future generations to understand and value their heritage.

    With Republicans controlling the House, Senate, and White House, we anticipate a streamlined legislative process where bills are likely to move more swiftly through both chambers and onto the President’s desk.

    We have always maintained strong bipartisan relationships in Washington and despite different policy priorities on certain issues, we are prepared to navigate this landscape and advocate for the preservation programs and funding levels that sustain and strengthen our shared mission.

    In addition to saving historic structures, preservation fosters a sense of community, promotes economic opportunity, upholds sustainable development, and connects people to the stories that shape their identities.

    Preservationists are driven by a passion for the work, whether through advocacy, hands-on restoration, or raising awareness. Your commitment is invaluable and inspiring.

    We will look to the preservation community to join us in the coming weeks and months to advocate for historic preservation and to remain steadfast in protecting the places that connect us to our history and inspire our future.

  • Lame Duck Session of Congress Likely to See a Flurry of Legislative Activity

    October 30, 2024

    As the Presidential election approaches, one thing is certain: we’re heading into a lame duck session of Congress before the conclusion of the 118th Congress.

    Whether it’s a first Harris administration or a second Trump administration, the current political dynamics will shift and Congress will still have several must-pass legislative items to complete before the end of the legislative session.

    On the annual funding front, the continuing resolution (CR) that avoided a government shutdown at the end of September and extends fiscal year (FY) 2024 enacted funding levels expires on December 20. Congress will have to finalize FY 2025 funding by that date or agree on another CR, further delaying the deadline. Critical funding for the Historic Preservation Fund (which includes SHPOs, THPOs, and competitive grant programs), and other funding streams for preservation-related programs, is at stake.

    The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) will also need to be addressed before the end of the calendar year. Historic preservation can be connected to the NDAA through provisions that support the protection of historic sites and resources, particularly those related to military history or that might be affected by defense-related activities. The NDAA often includes funding or directives for the maintenance and preservation of military landmarks, bases, and structures that hold historical significance. Additionally, it can address issues like the impact of military construction on heritage sites and the importance of integrating preservation efforts into broader defense strategies.

    Regardless of the election outcome, there are several key priorities that will shape the National Trust’s federal policy agenda going forward. These include:

    • Strengthening the National Historic Preservation Act
    • Promoting Historic Preservation as a Tool for Housing Creation and Sustainable Development
    • Advancing Equity in Historic Preservation
    • Expanding Public Education and Awareness

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