The DC History Center is deeply concerned that funding for the District of Columbia Archives building at the University of the District of Columbia has been eliminated in the Mayor’s FY26 proposed budget. This is an alarming development with far-reaching consequences.
The availability of well-preserved government records is a cornerstone of a functioning democracy, ensuring that both scholars and everyday citizens have the ability to study and understand the policy decisions and historical milestones that have shaped our city. While we are two distinct and separate organizations with different goals and purposes, both the DC Archives and the DC History Center protect DC history.
Without adequate funding and appropriate storage facilities, the DC Archives cannot continue its vital work of preserving, processing, and providing access to historical government records—materials that are foundational to understanding the District’s governance, civic identity, and social evolution. It also undermines years of progress made toward building a more transparent and inclusive historical record.
The loss of funding puts irreplaceable documents at risk and threatens to stall much-needed modernization and digitization efforts that would make these resources more available to all residents. Further, it sends a troubling message that the District is unwilling to invest in preserving its own history at a time when our autonomy and identity are increasingly under threat.
Please join us in urging the DC Council to restore funding for the DC Archives’ new building at the University of the District of Columbia in the FY26 budget. We stand ready to partner with the DC Archives and the Office of the Secretary to ensure that Washingtonians today and in the future can access the full, rich record of the city’s past.
Thank you for your concern around this issue. By way of next step, we recommend following the work of the DC Archives Foundation and signing up for their email updates. They provide more detailed explanation in this statement and propose specific action steps. Their draft letter is here.