This week, Preservation Action submitted testimony to the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee in support of the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) and other preservation priorities, as they work on drafting the FY26 Interior Appropriations bill. Preservation Action is urging the Committee to reject the request from the administration to nearly eliminate funding for the program and instead support $225 million for the Historic Preservation Fund, including much-needed increases for State and Tribal Historic Preservation Officers. The testimony also requests support for important grants competitive programs that are helping to preserve places that tell our nation's rich history. In our testimony we also highlight the ongoing delay in the release of FY25 HPF funding, the devastating impact the delay is having on preservation efforts, and urges the immediate release of this critical funding.

Our HPF request also highlights the need to reauthorize the Historic Preservation Fund, which expired in September. Previous FY25 draft appropriations bills included 1 year HPF authorization, but it was not included in the most recent Continuing Resolution.

Preservation Action also requested $46 million for Cultural Programs at the National Park Service (NPS). We expressed our concern over recent staff cuts at the NPS and the need to adequately fund these programs that are largely responsible for administering and carrying out historic preservation efforts. This also included our request for $3 million for the African American Burial Grounds Preservation Program, which was established by Congress, but has yet be funded.

Additionally, Preservation Action requested $34 million for the Preservation Partnership Program, which supports National Heritage Areas (NHAs), $10.5 million for the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and $209 million for the National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities, which has seen already awarded funding cancelled or rescinded.

As the appropriations process continues, Preservation Action will continue to advocate for much-needed funding that supports historic preservation. Check out our complete testimony to the Senate Appropriations Committee to learn more!

FY26 Senate Interior Appropriaitons Committee Written Testimony: https://preservationaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/PA-FY26-Senate-Interior-Appropriations-Testimony-Final.pdf