Across the nation, critical funding allocated for historic preservation has yet to be dispersed, and the impacts are already significant.

Many of the State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPOs) have yet to receive their FY 2025 funding allocations from the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF). These dollars were already appropriated by Congress, but bureaucratic delays threaten jobs, programs, and the places that tell our shared story.

In Ohio, one-third of the SHPO’s staff have been laid off, including 12 employees who played critical roles in reviewing historic sites and administering historic tax credit programs.

Several other SHPO offices warn of similar cuts if their allocated funding is not received in the next several weeks. These offices depend on HPF funding for up to 60% of their budgets, and without it, they cannot adequately meet their statutory obligations.

As we enter the final quarter of the federal fiscal year, SHPOs are making painful choices—cutting staff, shuttering programs, and delaying preservation work while they await their federal funding.

This puts nationally significant historic resources at risk and undermines programs like the federal Historic Tax Credit and National Register of Historic Places, which help preserve neighborhoods and fuel local economies.

At a recent congressional hearing, Representative Chellie Pingree (D-ME) raised serious concerns about these delays with Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. Representative Pingree made it clear that SHPOs need these funds immediately to continue performing the vital functions of their offices. Despite Congress appropriating these much-needed funds, there is no clear timeline for their release.

Grassroots voices make a difference! Please contact your federal elected officials and share your story about the importance of the HPF, the critical need for release of FY 2025 funds, and the support for HPF funding in FY 2026.