The National Archives, tasked with safeguarding America’s most vital records, faces unprecedented scrutiny as former President Donald Trump reshapes its leadership. Recent firings, resignations, and allegations of partisan interference have raised alarms about the institution’s ability to maintain neutrality while managing everything from constitutional amendments to military service files.
Trump abruptly dismissed Archivist Colleen Shogan on February 7 without public explanation, following his longstanding grievances over the agency’s 2022 referral about his handling of classified documents. This action triggered a wave of departures among senior staffers, including Deputy Archivist Jay Bosanko and Inspector General staff. ‘From my perspective, it was a witch hunt,’ said former executive assistant Andrew Denham, who accepted a government buyout last week.
‘The firing with no stated cause does harm to our nation and its people,’
declared the Society of American Archivists in response to Shogan’s removal. The Archives’ critical functions include:
- Authenticating constitutional amendments
- Preserving presidential records under the 1978 Presidential Records Act
- Overseeing Electoral College certifications
Experts warn that politically motivated leadership could distort how key events like the January 6 Capitol attack or federal agency reforms are documented. Thomas Brown, a retired electronic records specialist, emphasized: ‘These records can’t be whitewashed. They need to exist for historians and citizens to study.’
Trump’s temporary appointees – including Marco Rubio as acting archivist and Nixon Foundation veteran Jim Byron – have launched an operational review focused on budget efficiency. However, the agency has not clarified how staffing reductions impact its capacity to manage 13 billion records, including:
- Military personnel files
- Original founding documents
- Federal election materials
With the 2024 election approaching, concerns center on the Archives’ Office of the Federal Register, which verifies state electoral certificates. While archivists lack authority to reject electors, procedural delays could create dangerous uncertainties, warns the Brennan Center’s Daniel Weiner.
Former House Oversight Committee staffer Anthony Clark notes: ‘The real risk isn’t overt illegal acts, but gradual erosion of rigorous recordkeeping standards.’ As Trump prepares to nominate a permanent archivist requiring Senate confirmation, watchdogs urge scrutiny of candidates’ commitment to nonpartisanship over political loyalty.