National Historic Preservation Fund Faces Threatened Cuts

Julianne Patterson • June 30, 2025

Trump Administration Threatens to Cut the Entirety of the National Historic Preservation Fund


The Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) is under serious threat, with FY26 funding nearly eliminated in the President’s proposed budget and FY25 funding still unreleased. Without this critical support, the infrastructure that designates and protects historic places in Durham—from cemeteries to neighborhoods—faces immediate risk.


What is the HPF and Why Does This Funding Matter?

The National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), passed in 1966, is the cornerstone of federal historic preservation policy in the United States. It established a national framework for identifying, evaluating, and protecting historic and cultural resources. The NHPA created the National Register of Historic Places, the Section 106 review process for federal undertakings, and designated State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPOs) and, later, Tribal Historic Preservation Offices (THPOs).


The Historic Preservation Fund (HPF), established in 1976 as an amendment to the NHPA, provides the critical financial support needed to carry out the Act’s mandates. Through the HPF, states, tribes, and local governments receive funding to survey historic resources, review federal projects, and support preservation planning—ensuring the NHPA's goals are meaningfully implemented across the country.


The HPF is a federal-state partnership that requires a minimum 40% match at the state level. Notably, it is not funded by taxpayer dollars. Instead, it receives a portion of royalties from offshore oil and gas drilling. From the start, the idea was to invest proceeds from the extraction of one non-renewable resource into the preservation of another—America’s irreplaceable cultural heritage.


HPF in Action: Local Impact in Durham

Preservation Durham and the City/County of Durham have directly benefited from HPF-sourced grants in recent years:

  • The Geer Cemetery archeological survey & mapping project, which led to its listing on the National Register of Historic Places, was funded by a 2020 grant to Preservation Durham through the HPF.
  • The West End Cemeteries National Register District project received funding from a Certified Local Government (CLG) Grant to the City of Durham. CLG grants require a local match, demonstrating how HPF funds leverage local investment.
  • Currently, Preservation Durham and the City of Durham are partnering on a CLG grant project to document and nominate the Emorywood Estates neighborhood as a National Register Historic District.


Together, these three projects represent less than $100,000 in total project costs—yet none would have been possible without HPF’s matching contributions.


The Bigger Picture

While the potential loss of grant funding for future local projects is significant, an even more critical concern is the impact on our State and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices that staff and support the review, compliance, and programs mandated in the NHPA. The NC Historic Preservation Office is essential for reviewing historic tax credit projects, National Register nominations, guiding compliance with federal laws, and managing grant programs. Our State Historic Preservation Office provides critical support to our local historic preservation commission as well through trainings, guidance and even reviewing local landmark nominations.


To make matters worse, the FY25 HPF funding, though approved by Congress, has not yet been released by the Office of Management and Budget. This delay is already creating immediate and serious operational challenges for SHPOs and THPOs nationwide.


Our statewide partners at Preservation North Carolina recently published a detailed piece on the impact of this uncertainty. It’s well worth a read if you want to understand the broader consequences of these funding delays and proposed cuts on preservation efforts here in Durham and across the state.


Preservation depends on action and your voice matters. The National Trust for Historic Preservation created an online tool that makes it easy to plug in your address to get customizable form letters to send to your members of congress. It takes less than 5 minutes and will support the work that Preservation Durham is doing to advocate on these issues.


More articles and resources:

Statement from Preservation Durham Condemning the Removal of LGBTQ+ References from the Pauli Murray Center's National Park Service Pages

By Julianne Patterson • June 30, 2025
Statement from Preservation Durham Condemning the Removal of LGBTQ+ References from the Pauli Murray Center’s National Park Service Pages Durham NC — March 7, 2025— Preservation Durham, a dedicated advocate for historic preservation and inclusive storytelling across Durham County, stands in unwavering solidarity with the Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice in condemning the National Park Service’s (NPS) removal of references to Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray’s nonbinary gender identity from its official pages on the historic site in Durham, North Carolina. Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray was a pioneering legal scholar, civil rights activist, Episcopal priest, and a key architect of social justice movements in the United States. Their profound contributions to law, gender equity, and human rights are inextricably linked to their lived experience as a nonbinary and queer individual. Any attempt to erase these critical aspects of Murray’s identity undermines the historic integrity of their legacy and diminishes the rich, complex history of the site the Pauli Murray Center works diligently to preserve. Last year, Preservation Durham recognized the Center with an Award of Merit for their preservation of the site and expansive programing and interpretation. The Pauli Murray Family Home was designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL) in 2016 and is one of only four NHLs in Durham. Yet, despite this recognition of national significance, less than a decade later, Murray’s identity and contributions as a queer and nonbinary person are now being erased from the narrative. This is particularly alarming given that less than 1% of all recognized historic sites listed in the National Register of Historic Places focus on the experiences of LGBTQ+ people, making the preservation of these stories and experiences even more essential. “Historic preservation is about safeguarding not only physical spaces but also the full breadth of the histories they represent,” said Julianne Patterson, Executive Director of Preservation Durham. “Erasing reference to Pauli Murray’s gender identity from the National Park Service’s recognition of their home site is an affront to the very principles of historical accuracy and inclusion. We join the Pauli Murray Center in demanding that these references be restored and that NPS uphold its mission to preserve our nation’s natural and cultural resources and educate and inspire future generations.” Amanda Boyd, President of Preservation Durham, emphasized the importance of preserving the full truth of Murray’s life: “Pauli Murray’s legacy is one of courage, justice, and the unshakable belief in the dignity of all people. To honor their full story—including their identity as a queer, gender-expansive person—is not just an act of truth, but of justice. Non-binary and gender-expansive people have existed across cultures and throughout history, and any attempt to erase or alter this part of Pauli’s identity distorts both their legacy and our understanding of history. The Pauli Murray Center’s work ensures that future generations know and celebrate the entirety of who Pauli was and the profound impact of their life’s journey.” As an organization committed to ensuring that history is preserved in its fullest form, we reject this attempt to rewrite or distort the past. Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray’s story must be honored in its entirety, and we call upon the National Park Service to immediately reinstate the accurate and complete historical representation of their identity and contributions. We urge all those who value truth in history and the preservation of marginalized voices to stand with us in advocating for the restoration of this vital recognition and support the Center’s mission and efforts to uplift the full, unedited legacy of Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray. Digital documentation of changes on NPS websites: Side-by-side comparison of NPS page for the Pauli Murray Family Home viewed via the Internet Archive comparing changes seen in the page as viewed from February 3, 2025 and March 7, 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/diff/20250202105735/20250307142847/https://www.nps.gov/places/pauli-murray-family-home.htm Biographical Page on Pauli Murray associated with the Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site. Viewed via the Internet Archive February 10, 2025. This page is no longer available: https://web.archive.org/web/20250210170049/https://www.nps.gov/people/pauli-murray.htm Update 05/01/2025: Pauli Murray Center one of the many landmarks across the nation affected by anti-DEI restrictions. In February, reference to the history of local activist Pauli Murray’s Queer identities was stripped from the official National Park Service page for the Pauli Murray Family House National Historic Landmark page. A second, biographical page connecting Murray’s history to the Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site was completed removed. Last month, the center was notified that a multi-year grant worth $330,800 from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), a federal organization, was terminated. This money was dedicated to fund a staff position and educational programs to help curate the first exhibit at the home, “Pauli Murray: Coming Home.” The justification behind the removal of this Grant was, “[the] Grant is no longer consistent with the [IMLS’s] priorities and no longer serves the interest of the United States and the IMLS Program.” This reasoning is due to a March 14, 2025 Executive Order 14238, “Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy,” and increasing attacks on any history aligned with diversity, equity, and inclusion. Preservation Durham adamantly denounces the federal government’s abuse of power and attempts at erasing our nation’s history. It is important, now more than ever, to support our local partners like the Pauli Murray Center who continue to advocate for all-encompassing histories. An attack on our collective work as cultural historians to expand and include diverse, equitable and inclusive stories, is an attack on history and a means to quiet those who have been most negatively affected by our government and society throughout our nations history. If you want to support the Pauli Murray Center, you can sign this letter to send to your representatives, donate to, and visit the Pauli Murray Center.

505 W. Chapel Hill (The Home Security Life Building) Advocacy Updates

By Julianne Patterson • June 30, 2025
UPDATE 5/30/2025: A staff recommendation to end negotiations with Peebles (the selected preferred developer) is on the agenda for the June 5th City Council Work Session. Read the full staff report here and Preservation Durham's statement in response. ----------------------------------------- Preservation Durham strongly supports the rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of the historic Home Security Life Building at 505 W. Chapel Hill Street, a significant mid-century modern landmark designed by renowned architect Milton Small. Constructed as a headquarters for the Hill family’s insurance company, the building symbolized the optimism of mid-20th-century Durham and remains a key part of the city’s architectural and cultural identity. Alongside Duke Memorial Methodist Church and the NC Mutual Tower, it helps define a principal gateway to downtown. Despite its significance, the Home Security Life Building faces the threat of inaction. The City of Durham has entered negotiations with Peebles Corporation, the third development team to take on the project, but past efforts have stalled, leaving its future uncertain. Although structurally sound, years of vacancy and deferred maintenance put the building at risk. Without a clear and feasible preservation plan, Durham could lose an architectural gem, contributing tons of material to landfills and erasing an important piece of its history. Preservation Durham’s ideal outcome is a sensitive rehabilitation that integrates the building into a larger redevelopment, ensuring its long-term sustainability. We will continue to advocate for historic tax credits and preservation incentives to make the project financially viable, working with the City, developers, and community stakeholders to ensure a successful outcome. Our organization offers technical expertise, support in securing National Register designation, and community advocacy, including applying for preservation awards and assisting with marketing efforts. Additionally, we are prepared to accept an easement on the property to provide tax benefits and long-term protection. Through ongoing engagement with city staff, the development team, and elected officials, Preservation Durham is committed to ensuring that the Home Security Life Building remains a proud and functional part of Durham’s built environment, rather than becoming another lost landmark.