- NCSHPO

As 2025 comes to a close, NCSHPO reflects on a year marked by robust advocacy and an unwavering commitment to safeguarding the nation’s historic places. From federal funding battles to workforce initiatives and policy engagement, NCSHPO’s strategic leadership advanced the field of historic preservation at every turn.

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The opening days of the new presidential administration brought a rapid-fire wave of executive orders, setting a tone of governing by directive. As this period of unified Republican control of the White House and Congress unfolded, historic preservation appeared uncharacteristically front and center in national policy debates.

Executive Order Declaring a National Energy Emergency enabled federal agencies to invoke ACHP Section 106 emergency procedures under 36 CFR §800.12, reducing the standard 30-day response period to just seven days and increasing the potential for adverse effects to historic properties.

Executive Order 14253, Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History, directed the Department of the Interior to review federal historical displays and content — including monuments, memorials, statues, and markers — to ensure alignment with its interpretation of American history. In some cases, the order called for reinstating previously altered or removed monuments and markers, placing federal historic interpretation and preservation practice squarely in the national spotlight.

In March, NCSHPO welcomed new officers eager to serve their 1st terms through 2027:

President Anne Raines (MD)
Vice President Allyson Brooks (WA)
Secretary Heather Gibb (IA)
Treasurer Kate Marcopul (NJ)

With her work cut out for her, Maryland Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer Anne Raines brought new energy and strategic insight as President — guiding NCSHPO through uncharted territory and uniting SHPOs and strengthening the organization’s influence in the national spotlight. No stranger to active participation in NCSHPO efforts, Raines along with colleagues, contributed to the release of two important reports earlier this year:

Kicking off the 2025 Historic Preservation Advocacy Week in Washington, DC, NCSHPO Executive Director Erik Hein delivered powerful opening remarks that set the tone for what would become one of the most consequential advocacy campaigns in recent memory. As preservationists from across the country gathered to meet with members of Congress and their staff, Hein emphasized unity, focus, and pragmatic advocacy in the face of mounting challenges confronting our field. Drawing a parallel to 1980 — an era marked by upheaval, fiscal restraint, and threats to preservation programs — Hein recalled how the preservation community once rallied to defend funding and regulatory protections, underscoring that solidarity and collaboration are not merely aspirational, but essential in uncertain times.

A flurry of federal legislation and regulatory actions aimed at accelerating permitting for infrastructure and energy projects over the past several months have kept us hustling. Various proposed revisions to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), including Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED Act) designed to shorten review timelines and limit legal challenges — raise concern over the potential of streamlined processes to weaken protections for cultural and historic resources. Add to that ongoing efforts to reauthorize the Historic Preservation Fund with adequate appropriations, among other ongoings – has made for one heck of a year.

The defining moment of the year, however, was the significant significant delay in the release of FY25 SHPO appropriations appropriated by Congress through the Historic Preservation Fund. An Administration wide focus on reducing “wasteful spending” took hold, SHPO funding became ensnared in broader fiscal deliberations. With each passing day, SHPO offices depleted remaining FY24 funds while facing growing uncertainty about their operational future. Many were forced to implement emergency cost-saving measures. The situation quickly became dire, jeopardizing SHPOs’ ability to fulfill federally mandated responsibilities under the National Historic Preservation Act, including Section 106 project reviews and federal historic tax credit reviews — directly impacting historic resources and communities across the country.

With the future of SHPO offices at stake, NCSHPO stepped in — forcefully and persistently. For months, Executive Director, Erik Hein and Christina Hingle, Director of Government & External Affairs, worked tirelessly behind the scenes pressing for the immediate release of funds that state historic preservation offices rely on to do their work. Through sustained engagement with federal partners, clear-eyed advocacy, and relentless follow through — they ensured that preservation remained a priority in the midst of uncertainty. Alerting of the harms of delayed SHPO funds, NCSHPOs social media was uncharacteristically off the charts – highlighting the support for SHPOs Finally in early July, these efforts culminated in the unlocking of the HPF funding, and underscoring a fundamental truth: the success of historic preservation rests on vigilance, persistence, and leaders willing to press forward until commitments are honored.

In 2025, NCSHPO solidified its role not only as a strong voice for its SHPO membership, but also as a national leader in the historic preservation field. However, it is the hard work and dedication of SHPO staff across the country that continues to propel historic preservation forward. Looking ahead, NCSHPO remains committed to elevating the visibility of state historic preservation offices in 2026 — particularly as the nation prepares to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence, a milestone that places historic preservation at the heart of national heritage conversations.

Stay tuned as NCSHPO continues to support SHPOs in championing the places and stories that define America’s past, present, and future.