ACRA Statement on the Federal Government Shutdown
ACRA recognizes that the businesses and livelihoods of many of our members are impacted by the partial government shutdown that began on December 22, 2018. Because many federal agencies have shut down, including the Department of the Interior, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and the Department of Transportation, among others, ACRA members are finding that their projects are on hold, and it is difficult to make business planning decisions.
ACRA opposes President Trump’s decision to trigger a partial government shutdown. Creating a climate of economic uncertainty is detrimental to CRM businesses and the important work of helping protect America’s irreplaceable cultural resources. As the shutdown drags on, we are troubled by the profound impact it has on businesses and people throughout our nation.
ACRA firms work in cooperation with many federal employees, who are now unable to do their jobs and face strained financial circumstances because they are not getting paid. Getting them back on the job is critical to preserving the rich and varied history of our nation.
ACRA recognizes that the President is attempting to secure funding for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, and and joins our Coalition partners at SAA, SHA, and AAA in reiterating our objection to the Administration’s plans. We oppose the Administration’s decision to waive laws, including the National Historic Preservation Act, the Archaeological Resources Protection Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act, in order to speed construction of a border wall. Waiver of these laws poses a critical danger to the rich, irreplaceable cultural heritage of the border region. We urge the federal government to abide by existing processes to ensure that federal agencies weigh the effects their actions will have on cultural resources.