Trump's Plan Aims to Roll Back Protections for Parks and Landmarks

WHO:

CNN - Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP), President Donald Trump, Travis Voyles (ACHP Vice Chairman), Charles Birnbaum (Cultural Landscape Foundation), Rebecca Miller (DC Preservation League).

Alternet - Timothy Noah (The New Republic), Sara Bronin (former ACHP chair under President Joe Biden), Greg Werkheiser (Cultural Heritage Partners).

WHAT:

CNN - The Trump administration is proposing to amend regulations for the National Historic Preservation Act, specifically Section 106, which mandates federal agencies evaluate the impact of projects on historical properties.

CNN - Proposed changes include cutting the requirement for public comment, giving more authority to agencies for construction projects, and altering timelines for reviews.

CNN - The ACHP is asking members to vote on the proposed changes by July 24, with a deadline for votes set at 5 p.m. ET on that day.

Alternet - The ACHP is expected to publish a notice of proposed rulemaking by the end of the week.

Alternet - Proposed changes could allow for fast-tracking projects that may damage historic places with minimal public oversight.

WHERE:

CNN - Washington, D.C., including specific sites like the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, and East Potomac Park.

Alternet - Tonto National Forest in Arizona, Oak Flat area (Chi’chil Biłdagoteel).

WHEN:

CNN - The ACHP is requesting votes on the proposed changes by July 24.

Alternet - The ACHP is expected to publish the notice of proposed rulemaking by the end of the week.

WHY:

CNN - The proposed changes aim to ease the path for constructing projects favored by Trump, which have faced legal challenges due to compliance with Section 106.

Alternet - Critics argue that the changes are geared toward benefiting destructive projects in the federal pipeline, including oil and mining operations in national parks.

HOW:

CNN - The proposed revisions would replace the requirement for projects to "avoid, minimize or mitigate" adverse effects on historical sites with a requirement for "reasonable mitigation measures."

Alternet - The ACHP's review process is described as being under the control of Trump, with significant changes being proposed to the historic preservation process.

(UPDATED July 21, 2026 16:26 UTC)

The Trump administration is proposing significant amendments to the National Historic Preservation Act, specifically targeting Section 106, which requires federal agencies to assess the impact of their projects on historical properties. The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation is asking its members to vote on these proposed changes by July 24, with the potential for fast-tracking projects that could harm historic sites with reduced public oversight. Critics are concerned that these changes will primarily benefit projects like oil and mining operations in national parks, as the revisions shift the focus from avoiding adverse effects on historical sites to implementing only "reasonable mitigation measures."