View the full Business Meeting Recording
Members of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) met at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC, on June 4 to conduct formal business.
Vice Chairman Travis Voyles briefly reviewed recent Council activities, including the extension of the Federal Communications Commission Positive Train Control Program Comment to May 16, 2036; the imminent publication of the agency’s National Environmental Policy Act and Urban Development Action Grant Program regulation recissions; adoption through an unassembled vote on April 3 of the Army Warfighting Readiness and Associated Infrastructure Program Comment; and development of a draft policy on compensation and travel expense reimbursement for Members.
Next, Vice Chairman Voyles spoke about the continuation of the ACHP’s three standing Member committees, which inform the work of the Council and provide additional opportunities for engagement between Members. He said his assignment of each Member to a single committee underscores the importance of their participation in that committee’s meetings but encouraged Member attendance and participation in other committees’ meetings to the extent that time and resources allow.
Executive Director Reid Nelson updated the Members on the Fiscal Year 2026 budget of $8.285 million, which has allowed the ACHP to fund severance responsibilities from 2025 reductions in force, complete necessary renovations to current office space, and complete critical technology upgrades. He mentioned that Congress is currently considering the Fiscal Year 2027 budget. He also announced that Kathryn Ore was named ACHP Associate General Counsel.
Next, Vice Chairman Voyles said, since the last meeting, the ACHP received input from Members regarding possible revisions to the Section 106 regulations and staff has compiled that input and will make it available to all Members. Kevin Lilly, Department of the Interior Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, made an initial motion for the Council to expedite the drafting of the revised regulations and provide for substantive feedback from Members. After discussion among the Members, this motion was tabled.
ACHP Legislative and Policy Officer Blythe Semmer spoke to Members about the ACHP’s authority and responsibility to advise the President and Congress on preservation matters. Dr. Semmer updated Members on the Council’s legislative agenda discussed at the March 2025 meeting. Additionally, Dr. Semmer reported that staff is working on guidance on the use of existing historic buildings for housing, as required by Executive Order 14394, “Removing Regulatory Barriers to Affordable Home Construction.”
Jaime Loichinger, Director of the Office of Federal Agency Programs, addressed Members on the development of the 2027 Section 3 Report on the status and use of federal historic buildings, as required by the “Preserve America” Executive Order 13287. She said guidelines would soon go out to federal agencies on the ACHP’s expectations for individual agency reports. The full report is due to the President on February 16, 2027. Ms. Loichinger also reported on the implementation of two program alternatives adopted by the ACHP in 2024.
Under New Business, Mr. Lilly proposed an amendment to Interior’s initial motion regarding the Section 106 regulatory work. Lakota Hobia, Chair of the National Association for Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (NATHPO), subsequently made an additional action to amend that motion to include prior Tribal coordination. NATHPO withdrew its motion, and the Membership voted to pass Interior’s amended motion. This directed the ACHP Executive Director and staff to develop a timeline for reviewing the Section 106 regulations concurrently with a direction for the ACHP Members to provide substantive comments on potential regulatory revisions. ACHP staff was also directed to provide regular updates on its work to the Membership.
Following this action, Ms. Hobia made a new motion to direct the ACHP to engage concurrently in substantive discussions and ensure broad and meaningful Tribal coordination, but after a vote of the Membership, this motion did not pass. Vice Chairman Voyles noted that the ACHP will consult and engage with Tribes and NHOs in any regulatory work.
In conclusion, Vice Chairman Voyles thanked the Members for their participation and noted the next Business Meeting will take place September 30, 2026.