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On May 20, 2025, Secretary of the Interior Bergum issued Secretarial Order 3431, “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” which implements Executive Order 14253 issued by President Trump earlier this spring.

The Secretarial Order directs federal land management agencies to review and potentially revise public-facing content across national parks, wildlife refuges, and other federally managed sites, as well as mandating the National Park Service complete infrastructure improvements at Independence National Historical Park ahead of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

In addition, agencies are instructed to review any monuments or memorials that were altered or removed since 2020, with potential reinstatement if any changes are deemed inconsistent with the Administration’s preferred interpretation of history.

We will continue our assessment of this Order and share updates as soon as they are available.

On April 28, 2025, President Trump appointed Travis Voyles of Virginia to serve as Vice Chairman of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP), who will serve through June 2026.

While the full-time chairman role remains vacant, Voyles will perform the responsibilities of the chair until a new appointee is confirmed by the Senate.

Voyles currently serves as Assistant Deputy Administrator at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Prior to this role, he served as Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources for the Commonwealth of Virginia, where he advised Governor Glenn Youngkin and oversaw five state agencies, including the Virginia Department of Historic Resources and the State Historic Preservation Office.

His professional background includes service as Oversight Counsel for the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works under Senator Shelley Moore Capito, as well as previous roles at the EPA’s Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Relations.

He also worked for the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

Voyles holds a law degree from Florida State University with a certificate in environmental, energy, and land use law.

He also earned a master’s degree in city and regional planning from Georgia Tech and a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from the University of Georgia.

The National Trust looks forward to engaging with Vice Chairman Voyles in his new role as the Advisory Council continues its work to advance the goals of the National Historic Preservation Act and guide federal agencies in their stewardship of historic resources.

At the National Trust, we view historic sites not only as memories of the past, but also as dynamic places that shape our present and future.

These places root us in our communities, bridge generations, and reflect the rich and diverse story of America. As we celebrate Historic Preservation Month this May, our mission to protect these places – and the stories they hold – feels more critical than ever.

We have enjoyed collaborating with many of you since our last message—helping to get the word out to policymakers about the importance of federal preservation programs and engaging with the preservation community at key events.

These have included statewide conferences hosted by the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia and the Kentucky Heritage Council, the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) conference and Hill Day, the National Preservation Partners Network (NPPN) conference, the Historic Preservation Caucus Congressional Briefing, and several others.

These engagements represent just a portion of the collective efforts we’ve shared with our diverse coalition of preservation partners, all working together to advance the goals of the historic preservation movement on Capitol Hill and across the country.

This month has brought a number of significant federal policy developments. The release of the President’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request has set the stage for pivotal funding discussions that will impact preservation efforts for years to come.

Budget reconciliation negotiations around the “One Big Beautiful Bill” are also in play in the House and Senate, with far-reaching implications for federal investment in cultural programs and community revitalization.

Amid these shifts, we’re excited about the bipartisan reintroduction of the Historic Tax Credit Growth and Opportunity Act (HTC-GO) in both chambers of Congress – a major milestone we’ve worked hard to support. Our government relations team has been deeply involved in these efforts: meeting with congressional offices, collaborating with advocates nationwide, and keeping preservation priorities front and center on Capitol Hill.

As the policy landscape evolves, we remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting the programs and safeguards that preserve our shared heritage.

We invite you to join us in this work. Visit our Action Center to explore our current campaigns and discover how you can help make a difference.

Released at the beginning of May, the fiscal year (FY) 2026 President’s budget proposes unprecedented cuts to historic preservation funding that, if adopted by Congress, would undermine preservation and community building efforts throughout the United States. Advocates are needed to reach out to their Congressional delegations and explain the positive impact historic preservation investments have in helping build stronger, more resilient communities.

Adding to this challenge is the fact that FY2025 historic preservation funding, which was approved by Congress earlier this year, has not been released to State and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices, or for already-awarded competitive grant programs under the Historic Preservation Fund.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation shares the concerns of the National Council of State Historic Preservation Officers (NCSHPO) about the impact delayed federal funding will have in administering national preservation programs at the state level. Most states now face imminent reductions in staff if current year funding is not released. Join the growing coalition of support for historic preservation funding and learn more on the NCSHPO website.

For perspectives and information at the local level, the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions (NAPC) has also released material to help advocates support the Historic Preservation Fund.

Please also visit the National Trust's page on the Historic Preservation Fund for our fact sheet and take action to protect the Historic Preservation Fund.

Looking for specific examples to share as part of your advocacy? Check out this collection of projects, one for each state and Washington, D.C.

NCSHPO:

“There is concern over the future of the HPF, inclusive of the ability of SHPO offices to continue their work benefitting communities across the country. We cannot let that happen – and with the help of Congress, we can ensure that our national historic preservation program continues to be a partnership – fulfilling the commitment made to our historic places. Severing that bond, particularly in the face of our 250th Anniversary in 2026, sends the message that our history, our communities, and what fundamentally tells our American story doesn’t matter.” - Erik Hein, executive director NCSHPO.

• Historic Preservation Under Threat
• SHPOs | Historic Preservation Under Threat

NAPC:

“At NAPC, we believe strongly in the preservation partnership model established by the National Historic Preservation Act—federal, state, and local governments working together to protect our shared heritage. Without federal support, this system breaks down, and local communities are left without vital resources.” - NAPC

• The Historic Preservation Fund and Local Commissions
• The National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) & Local Commissions
• How Recent Federal Actions Impact Local Preservation Programs