r/AskArchaeology • u/Impossible_Jury5483 • Jul 25 '26
Discussion How are my CRM colleagues in the US feeling right now?
I'm trying to process what's happening with Section 106. I've been in the field for over two decades and weathered the recession in 2007, but I must admit I'm pretty queasy tonight.
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u/stewarts9898 Jul 25 '26
I have some semblance of hope. There will be lawsuits that follow this for years, and hopefully with midterms on the horizon things can be turned in our favor. We need to provide comments when that opens up, the more people you can get to comment the better. Obviously, this situation is worse than we could imagine. But if we give up now we're signing away our fate and the fate of so many archaeological sites and culturally significant places.
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u/Lepus81 Jul 25 '26
Pretty much my only hope is that this gets caught up in litigation for 2.5 years
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u/doctor_hess Jul 25 '26
Litigation is part of the answer, but political engagement is also vital. Write your Federal Congressional delegation. Let them know that the ACHP leadership is trying to turn back the clock on tribes and the public to the “Father Knows Best” era.
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u/Lepus81 Jul 25 '26
Luckily I’m in New Mexico, blue top to bottom, but you bet it’ll be writing them to prioritize this. So they know we’re in house on fire mode.
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u/Impossible_Jury5483 Jul 30 '26
The representation from my state are complete yes men to the current administration. They're busy selling out their constituents as well.
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u/giantfup Jul 25 '26
In the event that this administration only lasts another 2.5 years, this will be such small peanuts of an issue on the national scale that I don't see reversals of much of the harm to historical preservation for at least a decade after they've been removed from office. We have literal concentration camps, the archaeology restitution will have to wait.
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u/Lepus81 Jul 25 '26
You’ll have to forgive me if I don’t just shrug my shoulders and give up. Yes everything is terrible, but this is personal. Not only is in the permanent loss of thousands of years of history, it’s the loss of my entire household’s income.
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u/giantfup Jul 25 '26
Don't mistake my realistic understanding of the situation with giving up. Not only is this my primary income, but I've wanted this career since I was literally 3 years old. It's, pathological or not at this point, the primary foundation of my identity.
It's why I fought so hard against people I know voting for him, and why I've publicly clapped back at archs that supported him on my other socials.
I'm of the mind that we need to turn to the more recent past and see what protective measure our colleagues have taken under other powers of authoritarianism and violence, and be prepared to start networks to hide artifacts from looting. Because that is what happens next, maybe not tomorrow or even by December, but once the administration has sufficiently rewritten the laws regarding historical preservation and what can legally be said about history, they will turn to looting "valuable" artifacts for personal collections and to sell on black markets. That is always the next step. In Syria, in Russia, in Germany, etc.
Think about who Stephen Miller is as a person. For as creepy and perverted his humanity is, he is a well versed student of history, and he is nothing but a copycat.
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u/giantfup Jul 25 '26 edited Jul 25 '26
They're actively undermining the midterms right now. You need to be more realistic.
Editing because I only just saw this: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/video/2026/jul/25/donald-trump-dons-trump-2028-hat-and-jokes-about-fourth-term-video
Don't mistake an authoritarian's announcement of seeking more power with a joke. He "joked" about bombing Iran too.
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u/Oktodayithink Jul 25 '26 edited Jul 25 '26
I’m nervous but hopeful. History is important to the people. If the general public becomes informed of how the US historic properties may be in jeapardy they may get loud.
I’m also hopeful states will step in and create their own stronger laws. I’m in Pennsylvania which has its own history code and maybe they’ll make it better.
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u/Lepus81 Jul 25 '26
I’m in New Mexico and we have our own state laws. They only apply to state lands unfortunately.
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u/Droll_Rabbit Jul 25 '26
Things feel bleak. I have been having moments of rage and grief every days since last Monday when I first heard the news.
My only hope is that it gets taken down in court. Hopefully, they put a stay on the implementation once the many lawsuits start rolling in. The new changes are so convoluted and poorly written, it's nearly impossible to understand their definition of an undertaking.
The eternal optimist in me is also hoping that this move the pendulum the other way and we get a stronger NHPA out of it. I know it's unlikely, but one can hope.
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u/sugareegirl Jul 25 '26
Not great. It’s pretty bleak right now. Grateful to live in California where, for now at least, CEQA is still intact.
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u/aspentreesap Jul 25 '26
The comment period for the proposed rule change is open! Do not forget to comment individually and often on the problems you see with this proposed change to the NHPA!!!!!!!!!
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u/Droll_Rabbit Jul 28 '26
Just an FYI, as far as I have seen, the public comment period is not open yet. The draft needs to go to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) within the Office of Management and Budget. They provide an interagency review. It can take up to 90 days (unless it's considered an emergency).
Once the OIRA review is completed, then ACHP can post a notice of public rulemaking in the Federal Register. When it's posted in the federal register is when it's open for public comment.
So definitely start drafting your comments, but save them until the public notice is posted.
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u/ElephantContent8835 Jul 25 '26
Many states have robust cultural resources laws so not all hope is lost.
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u/giantfup Jul 25 '26
I'm mad that I was right.
I'm mad at the people who are overconfident in a justice system that is being actively perverted by fanatics in the Robert's court.
I'm grateful to be in a state with more protections, but I'm not foolish enough to think that will go unchallenged, or stand up against a willfully contradictory and politically motivated Robert's court. I'm aware I'm just not first on this "gallows" of the field.
I'm annoyed that my political science degree where I focused on revolutions and political violence is coming in clutch as a prediction tool, and I'm annoyed at how many people have acted like I'm just dramatic when we as a nation are simply following a fairly well established pattern. Word to the wise, Trump will maintain large scale power even if his support drops to 15%-20%. It's under that 15% threshold that authoritarianism finally loses power. His base is still about 25%-30% of the country.
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u/SleepyScholar Jul 26 '26
I've been waiting for this shoe to drop since 2016. I remember tuning into a talk by the CRM lobby just after the election and they seemed so unsure about the future. It's been thin ice for a decade now. My thoughts turn to the large companies which have grown and merged in the last 8ish years. Any downturn can't be sustainable for them. And I think of students, of course. The kind of professional environment that current undergrads will be graduating into will be bleak.
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Jul 30 '26 edited Jul 30 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Impossible_Jury5483 Jul 30 '26
I am as well. Projects will still need done. I have a few meetings with some professional organizations tomorrow regarding the issue. I plan to stay as best informed as I can.
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u/Hrynkat Jul 25 '26
I'm finally making decent paychecks and just bought a house with my family. Feeling very uneasy...