The Future of The Historic Preservation Fund
Our nation's historic preservation infrastructure faces a critical juncture that demands immediate and unified action from our preservation community. The Historic Preservation Fund (HPF), the primary federal funding mechanism for supporting state and local preservation efforts, requires urgent Congressional attention for both current and future funding cycles. This update and the recommendations below were shared by our colleagues at the National Preservation Partners Network as a nationwide call to action. Maine's statewide nonprofit, Maine Preservation, has shared a similar urgent request. This is preservation's Paul Revere moment and we all must respond to the call.
The Current Crisis
The FY25 Historic Preservation Fund allocation remains unreleased by Congress, creating significant and immediate operational challenges for State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPOs), Tribal Historic Preservation Offices (THPOs), and Certified Local Governments nationwide. This will ultimately negatively impact all of our Maine communities since this delay threatens ongoing preservation projects, archaeological surveys, National Register nominations, Federal Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit projects, and critical preservation planning initiatives that protect our shared cultural heritage. In fact, the Maine Historic Preservation Commission (our SHPO) has already made the difficult decision to cancel grants to avoid laying off staff, as other SHPOs have done.
Simultaneously, as Congress prepares the FY26 budget, we face the sobering reality that the budget in its current form basically eliminates the Historic Preservation Fund by cutting $158 million. This is the most significant threat historic preservation has faced in over four decades. The elimination of the funding will devastate historic preservation efforts and programs across the country, from rural historic districts to urban redevelopment projects.
Why Your
Voice Matters
The Historic Preservation Fund represents more than federal dollars—it embodies our national commitment to preserving the places that tell America's story. These funds support:
State and Tribal Historic Preservation Programs that serve as the backbone of preservation efforts nationwide
Certified Local Government grants that empower communities to protect their own historic resources
National Register documentation that provides crucial legal protections and financial resources for significant properties
Archaeological surveys and research that expand our understanding of America's deep history
Preservation education and training that engages the public and builds the next generation of preservation professionals
Every dollar invested in historic preservation generates substantial economic returns through heritage tourism, job creation, Main Street revitalization and property value enhancement, while simultaneously strengthening community identity and cultural continuity.
For FY25 HPF Funding Release:
Contact your senators and representatives to urge immediate release of already-appropriated FY25 Historic Preservation Fund dollars. These funds are critical for maintaining state and tribal preservation programs that protect resources in every Congressional district.
For FY26 HPF Full Funding:
Advocate for full funding of the Historic Preservation Fund in the FY26 budget process. The House of Representatives passed a budget that basically eliminates the HPF, but the Senate will now take up the matter, so there is still time to save this critical source of funding.
How to Take Action
As soon as possible:
Call your representatives' offices - Phone calls carry significant weight with Congressional staff
Send personalized letters or emails - Include specific examples of why historic places matter to you and your community.
Engage on social media - Use #PreservationMatters and #HistoricPreservationFund to amplify our message.
Mobilize your networks - Share this call to action with your neighbors, neighborhood associations, and community organizations and ask them to contact their representatives in Congress.
Key Talking Points
Historic preservation creates jobs and drives economic development, especially in tourism economies like greater Portland where our historic neighborhoods and sites draw visitors from around the world.
Delayed funding disrupts ongoing projects and threatens historic sites; Maine enjoys a 25% historic tax credit match but without staff to run the program at the Maine Historic Preservation Commission, these projects will grind to a halt, leaving critical housing units off the market. Without the HPF, MHPC could lose 3 of 5 current staff positions by the end of the summer.
Historic preservation strengthens communities and preserves America's heritage for future generations. HPF funds should continue to be allocated to local communities as they have in the past and not redistributed to pet projects in other states.
Congressional Contact Information
Find your representatives' contact information at Congress.gov or call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121.
LET US KNOW ABOUT YOUR ADVOCACY!
Copy Director of Advocacy Alison Frazee (afrazee@portlandlandmarks.org) on your emails and tag us on social media.
Every touchpoint counts!
Sample Language for Your Outreach (click here to see an example from us!)
"Hi, my name is [Your Name], and I'm a constituent from [Your City/State/Zip Code]. I’m [calling/emailing] to voice concern over the devastating $158 million in cuts to the Historic Preservation Fund in President Trump’s proposed FY 2026 budget and the impoundment of already-allocated FY25 funding.
The Historic Preservation Fund is independently funded from offshore gas and oil drilling leases, not taxpayer dollars. It is absolutely essential to our nation’s heritage, providing critical funding to all State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPOs), Tribal Historic Preservation Offices (THPOs), and programs that preserve, document, and showcase America’s rich history and culture.
The Historic Preservation Fund protects the places that define us, from our treasured historic landmarks and cultural resources to our small-town Main Streets and dense urban centers.
The Historic Preservation Fund also helps:
Generate billions of dollars in investment through historic building reuse, conversion, and adaptive reuse projects.
Create thousands of affordable housing units each year, often at lower costs than new construction.
Support critical public infrastructure projects.
Increase in-demand, skilled labor jobs for Americans in areas like masonry, carpentry, and electrical work.
Boost local economies through heritage tourism.
Portland has benefited from HPF investments in a variety of ways. A few examples include: ongoing funding for the City of Portland's Historic Preservation Program Manager who administers historic districts and landmarks, preservation projects like the roof repair at Mechanics' Hall and fence restoration at historic Lincoln Park, and site work such as 3D scanning at Fort Gorges and photo documentation at Abyssinian Meetinghouse. Without HPF funds, projects like these may not happen in the future.
I urge you to support full funding for the Historic Preservation Fund in the FY 2026 budget and to make FY 2025 HPF funds already appropriated by Congress available. Our nation’s heritage—and critical public infrastructure and local economies—depend on it. Thank you for your time."
Sincerely,
[Your Name]