As so many of you know, preservation opportunities are created and enhanced by the Historic Preservation Fund, which for decades has supported communities throughout America. The proposed elimination of the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) in the Administration’s FY26 Budget, with the important exception of projects related to Historically Black Colleges and Universities, will have a profound negative impact on our neighborhoods, towns, cities and rural communities.

Since 1976, the HPF has been a primary source of funding for the nation’s historic preservation programs. Federal investment in these programs has restored historic places, driven local job creation, supported small businesses, and uncovered stories of our shared past.

This work has benefited communities across all 50 states, including in Minnesota, where the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota and Main Street America partner Rethos: Places Reimaged received funding to build a grant program, “Looking Up,” for Main Street building owners to boost investment in their underused upper floor spaces, benefiting many Minnesota Main Street communities, like those in Red Wing.

In Chicago, HPF funding rehabilitated the Wabash Avenue YMCA, a cultural touchstone that provided crucial housing and job training for Black Americans migrating from the South in the early 20th century and that is now part of the newly created Bronzeville-Black Metropolis National Heritage Area.

Frances Perkins made history as the first woman to serve in a presidential cabinet, where as Franklin Roosevelt’s Secretary of Labor she helped to devise Social Security programs. HPF enabled the restoration of the Frances Perkins Homestead National Landmark in Newcastle, Maine.

The 1902 Golden Rule building served as one of the first retail establishments in Belington, WV. After the coal mine closures of the 1970s, the building was abandoned until a buyer used Historic Tax Credits, Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, and local and regional funds to repurpose it. Today, the first-floor features mixed-use commercial space, while its upper floors offer affordable housing to the community.

Beyond these direct local impacts, the Administration’s proposed budget cuts, the consolidation of employees at the Department of the Interior and potential reduction in force at the Agency puts at risk our national parks and the historic places that showcase our shared history and remind us of the promise of this nation’s founding. As the 250th Anniversary approaches, we can and should work together with the federal government to reaffirm our commitment to honoring the places where our history happened and to telling the stories of all Americans.

Please consider joining the National Trust in sharing your stories of how preservation funding has benefited you and your community, and please help us advocate for continued investment in not just funding, but also in talented federal staff who ensure this vital work reaches every corner of this country.

You can learn more about the decades-long federal investment in preservation, read our recent testimony to Congress, and take action now.