On Monday, the Office of Management and Budget sent out a memorandum pausing funding for federal grants and other programs. The memorandum said all Federal agencies were required to identify and review all Federal financial assistance programs and supporting activities to make sure they are consistent with President Trump’s policies and requirements. Because the funding THPOs receive from the Historic Preservation Fund are grants, that funding was paused. Although the memo was rescinded on Wednesday, there is still a lack of clarity if the funding pause is still in effect.
NATHPO and staff at the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs would like to keep track of if THPOs are having difficulty accessing THPO HPF grants or other federal grants. If you could run into problems accessing grants while using federal websites, please take a screenshot and send these screenshots to oversight@indian.senate.gov NATHPO’s Operations Manager Melissa Madrigal at Melissa@NATHPO.org and NATHPO’s government affairs coordinator Ted Monoson at Ted@NATHPO.org. If you are not able to get a screenshot or do not feel comfortable sharing a screenshot, please don’t hesitate to send NATHPO and the Committee a short note describing your experience. Both Senate Indian Affairs Staff and NATHPO staff will keep any information that you share confidential.
Both NATHPO and the Committee’s goal is to get a better understanding of the implications of the memorandum and the recission of the memo.
NATHPO is committed to supporting sovereign Tribal Nations as they exercise their trust and treaty rights to protect and preserve cultural resources and sacred places. Please share specific concerns directly with Melissa, Ted, and the Committee. We will continue to monitor administration actions and engage as necessary.
Thank you for all you do to protect culturally important places that perpetuate Native identity, resilience, and cultural endurance, and to empower Tribal preservation leaders.
THPOs: this is your organization! Your participation and support through membership and dues make our work possible. JOIN OR RENEW TODAY! Founded in 1998, the Association is a national non-profit membership organization of Tribal government officials who implement federal and Tribal preservation laws.
