Summary of FY 23 Federal Budget for History, Archival, Education and Preservation Programs

President Biden has signed into law an omnibus appropriations bill which will fund the federal government through the last nine months of fiscal year (FY) 2023. Click here to access a chart (see attached) showing how programs of interest to our community fared. It includes the budget for FY 23 and compares it with FY 22 and President Biden’s original FY 23 budget request. Click here to see a second chart (also attached) that provides funding trends over the past three fiscal years to gain some historical perspective.

The numbers show a general upward trend. While most agencies received modest increases, some programs received their first major funding boosts in some time. These include the National Archives and Records Administration, National Historical Publications and Records Commission, American History and Civics grants at the US Department of Education, and the Historic Preservation Fund at the National Park Service.

  • The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) received $427.5 million for operating expenses (OE), a $39.2 million increase, or 10 percent, from the FY 22 level of $388 million. $2 million is designated to preserve and make publicly available the congressional papers of former Members of the House and Senate.
  • The National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) received $12 million in base funding, up from $7 million last year. However, the Commission received an additional $23,772,500 in congressionally earmarked projects, bringing the total up to $35,772,500. By comparison, the NHPRC only received $5.8 million in congressional earmarks in FY 22. This is by far the highest level of funding the NHPRC has received in its history.
  • The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) received $207 million, a $27 million increase from the FY 23 level of $180 million.
  • K-12 history and civics programs at the Department of Education: The Presidential and Congressional Academies for American History and Civics were level funded at $3 million. However, the American History and Civics grants program received $20 million up dramatically from $4.75 million in FY 22. The FY 23 total of $23 million marks the highest amount the two programs have received since their establishment.
  • The Title VI/Fulbright-Hays International Education programs received small increases. Title VI (domestic programs) was increased by $3.5 million from $71.8 million to $75.3 million. Fulbright-Hays (overseas programs) only received a $500,000 increase, up from $9.8 million to $10,3 million. Together the programs received $85.6 million, up $4 million from $81.6 million last year.
  • The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) received a $26.8 million funding boost to $294.8 million. Library Programs increased by $13.6 million to a level of $211 million, and Museum Programs increased by $7 million up to $47.4 million.
  • The National Park Services’ FY 23 budget includes $204.5 million for the Historic Preservation Fund, an increase of $32 million above the fiscal year 2022 level. Within this amount, the bill includes $62 million for State and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices, $30 million for competitive grants to preserve the sites and stories of underrepresented community civil rights, and $11 million for grants to Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The bill includes $26.5 million for the Save America’s Treasures competitive grant program for the preservation of nationally significant sites, structures, and artifacts. The bill includes $29.2 million for the Heritage Partnership Program and provides $12.5 million for competitive historic preservation grants to revitalize properties of national, State, and local significance in rural areas. The American Battlefield Protection Program’s budget was level funded at $20 million. The bill allocates $15 million, up from $8 million last year, to support the ongoing work of the US Semiquincentennial Commission. The bill provides $10 million for a new Semiquincentennial Preservation Grants program to support the restoration of sites that honor the 250th anniversary of the country’s founding, including Revolutionary War monuments.
  • The Library of Congress received $828.5 million, up from $794 million in FY 22.
  • The Smithsonian Institution’s budget was increased by $82 million, up to $1.144 billion. The Salaries and Expenses budget is $893 million and the Facilities Capital budget is $251 million.
  • The US Semiquincentennial Commission’s budget would increase from $8 million to $15 million.
  • The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars received $15 million, level funded from last year.