From Preservation Action:

This week, the Senate Appropriations Committeereleased their FY26 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill. The bill includes $168.246 million for the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF), $654,000 below FY25 enacted levels. This includes a small increase for Tribal Historic Preservation Offices, recognizing the increase in the number of Tribes, and additional funding for Congressionally Directed Spending for HPF projects, but eliminates funding for the Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization grant program and the Semiquincentennial grant program. Overall, the bill includes funding at the following levels for the HPF:

$62.15 million for State Historic Preservation Offices (same as FY25)
$23.75 million for Tribal Historic Preservation Offices ($750,000 above FY25)
$25.5 million for the Save America's Treasures grant program (same as FY25)
$24 million for African American Civil Rights Grants (same as FY25)
$11 million for the HBCU Preservation Grant Program (same as FY25)
$5 million for Historic of Equal Rights Grants (same as FY25)
$1.25 million for Underrepresented Communities Grants (same as FY25)
$15.596 million for Congressionally Directed Spending for HPF projects ($15.596m above FY25)
Not Included: Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant program ($10 million below FY25)
Not Included: Semiquincentiennial Grant Program ($7 million below FY25)

Total HPF Funding: $168.246 million ($654,000 below FY25 enacted levels)

The HPF funding included in this bill is slightly below FY25 enacted levels and the level included in the House FY26 Interior Appropriations bill, but still substantially above the President's request. We are very disappointed to see funding for Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization grant program and Semiquincentennial grant program were eliminated in the Senate bill, especially ahead of the nation's 250th anniversary. We were pleased to see a small increase for THPOs and the return of Congressionally Directed Spending for HPF projects. A full list of HPF projects included is available here. We were also pleased to see the bill included language to reauthorize the HPF for one year until September of 2026. The HPF's authorization lapsed in September of last year.

The Senate Interior Appropriations bill also calls for a $3.3 billion for the National Park Service, including level funding for Cultural Programs at $39.327 million and $30.985 million for the Heritage Partnership Program, which supports National Heritage Areas. The bill also includes level funding for Advisory Council on Historic Preservation at $8.585 million and level funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities at $207 million. Both of these received substantial cuts in the House version of the bill. The bill was passed by the Senate Appropriations Committee in a bipartisan 26-2 vote. You can watch the full hearing here. 

Also this week, the full House Appropriations Committee advanced their version of the bill along a party line vote. Both bills now move to the full House and Senate for consideration, but with significant disagreements and limited legislative days remaining until the end of the fiscal year on September 30th, the likelihood of a Continuing Resolution or potential government shutdown increases.

Preservation continues to advocate for Congress to support robust funding for the HPF and to reauthorize the program. Join us in taking action by reaching out to your members of Congress in support of the HPF today!