Historic preservation is under direct threat practitioners are increasingly warning, under the guise of the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 (S.5653).
The New York Archaeological Council and New York State Archaeological Association are calling the proposed act “the most destructive overhaul of the National Historic Preservation Act since 1966,” joining a large chorus of historians and historic preservation organizations calling for changes.
Part of Trump administration efforts to gut historic preservation rules more widely, the bill was introduced in the US Senate on September 30, 2026 by Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mike Lee (R-UT), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).
A vote is expected the day the Senate returns from recess on November 9th.
The archaeological organizations have planned a panel discussion on these threats tonight, Wednesday, October 28 at 7 pm, online via Zoom and in person at the Museum of Science in Buffalo.
“If passed, it will fast-track construction, strip away community input, muzzle SHPOs/THPOs [State and Tribal Historic Preservation Officers], and block judicial recourse even when irreplaceable archaeological and historical resources are damaged,” the organizations said in an email announcing the event.
You can join the Zoom meeting here.
Panelist for the event include Doug Perrelli of the University of Buffalo Archaeological Survey and Kate Whalen of the New York Archaeological Council.
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