Federal agencies are acting quickly to implement changes to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) that will have a significant impact on one of the most important laws protecting our nation’s historic, cultural, and natural resources.

NEPA is a critical component for historic preservation by integrating a review process for federal projects that ensures federal agencies engage in early analysis of project impacts on historic resources and ensure valuable public input prior to their decision-making.

During our webinar last month, we reviewed several of the recent developments related to NEPA along with sharing information about the open public comment period for several federal agencies, including the Department of the Interior, that ended August 4.

The National Trust submitted comments to multiple agencies sharing support for NEPA and its critical role in protecting our shared cultural heritage. We will continue to engage on this issue and share updates when they become available.

In July 2025. the National Trust’s Government Relations team shared a federal advocacy update focused on timely actions advocates can take to support historic preservation efforts and our progress to date.

This briefing provided the latest information on federal policy developments, preservation-related tax legislation, fiscal years 2025 and 2026 appropriations, and other key priorities.

The discussion focused on historic preservation’s most critical advocacy needs and provided a concise overview of the political landscape to help maximize our advocacy impact.

Responses to submitted questions will be posted here at a later date.

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.

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.