The Department of Interior, which includes the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management and other agencies, is currently working on a massive reorganization. While much remains uncertain, the reorganization is expected to consolidate a range of operations at Interior and across agencies including communications, financial management, contracting, human resources, grants, civil rights, and IT functions. More details about the reorganization plans are expected in the next couple of weeks.

This consolidation effort comes at the same time the National Park Service is losing a number of employees with additional layoffs expected. Many employees are taking resignation offers as pressure from department leadership continues to mount. Meanwhile, a federal hiring freeze will likely leave many of these positions vacant.

Preservation Action is deeply concerned by recent actions at Interior and the impact they will have on historic preservation and cultural resources programs. Efforts to consolidate operations including grants could impact important preservation grant programs funded through the Historic Preservation Fund. We also remain concerned that losses to staff that carry out much of the federal historic preservation program will lead to a loss institutional knowledge and decline in capacity, slowing down reviews, nominations, Historic Tax Credit certifications and more. 

We know the multitude of federal actions continues to cause confusion and impact the important, ongoing work of preservation professionals across the country. We encourage you to share your stories. Our partners at the National Trust for Historic Preservation are collecting these stories to better assist our advocacy efforts.

Share Your Stories: https://support.savingplaces.org/page/81335/survey/1