The long-anticipated conclusion of the Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations process included some disappointments and several positive developments.

Amidst a political environment with House Republicans seeking deep spending cuts, the Historic Preservation Fund saw a disappointing reduction from FY23 enacted levels ($204.515 million) to FY24 ($188.666 million), an approximate decrease of 7%.

It is worth noting, however, that the FY24 appropriated level of funding for the HPF remains well above the authorized level of funding to be deposited in the HPF each year ($150 million) – highlighting the need for an increase in the program’s authorized funding.

The Semiquincentennial, Save America’s Treasures, and Paul Bruhn Revitalization grant programs within the HPF experienced funding reductions, but the bill retained a sizeable amount of Congressionally Directed Spending (formerly known as earmarks) in the Senate, totaling $19.766 million for 51 specific preservation projects.

Included in the FY24 funding package were several notable preservation wins:

• Lawmakers and preservationists celebrated the inclusion of an extension for the HPF’s funding authorization until September 30, 2024.
• Bill language protecting cultural and natural resources at Minidoka National Historic Site by restricting implementation for installation of thousands of wind turbines in the vicinity
• Bill language maintaining the prohibition on drilling in Chaco Canyon until the completion of a cultural resources investigation mandated in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.