WASHINGTON, D.C - Following formal approval from the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) on April 3, 2026, the U.S. Army has announced the adoption of a new, modernized approach to managing its historic properties. The Program Comment for Army Warfighting Readiness streamlines compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, replacing a fragmented system of 115 separate installation-level agreements with a single, strategic framework.
The new framework uses a four-tiered system that tailors preservation efforts to a property's significance. This allows the Army to accelerate readiness while focusing its stewardship resources on the most important historic sites.
Tiers 1 and 2 provide the highest standard of care for the Army’s "crown jewels"—National Historic Landmarks like West Point and properties of traditional religious and cultural importance to Native American Tribes.
Tiers 3 and 4 streamline management for the majority of the Army’s portfolio, including pre-1941 historic "workhorse" buildings and many others from the WWII and Cold War eras.
"This new framework allows us to focus on what truly matters: supporting our Soldiers and preserving the most important pieces of our nation's history," said Jordan Gillis, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment. "It strikes the right balance, allowing us to fast-track mission-critical activities while ensuring our most significant historic properties receive the highest standard of preservation."
The new strategy addresses an outdated and inefficient system that caused delays in modernization projects, such as upgrading historic buildings and new military construction. By simplifying the process for common infrastructure, the Army can now focus its time and resources on mission readiness and places of genuine national importance.
"This modernized approach will replace the complex patchwork of many local agreements with a consistent, standardized, strategic approach," said Dr. David Guldenzopf, Army Federal Preservation Officer. "This Program Comment is an at-scale solution that aligns the Section 106 process more strategically with the Army’s warfighting readiness activities.”
“I want to thank the ACHP and the other federal agency members for their collaboration to help us streamline this critical Army process”, said Dr. Jeff Waksman, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment.
The new framework was developed over the past year in close collaboration with the ACHP and in consultation with State Historic Preservation Offices, Federally recognized Tribes, and Native Hawai’ian Organizations, among others. It applies to the Active Army, Army Reserves, and Army National Guard on Army-controlled installations and will remain in effect until 2055.
For more information, please visit https://www.denix.osd.mil/army-pcwr/.
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