President-elect Donald Trump has announced plans to replace the head of the National Archives, bringing the agency back into the political spotlight following his mishandling of sensitive documents, which led to a federal indictment. “We will have a new archivist,” Trump told radio host Hugh Hewitt on Monday.
The National Archives alerted the Department of Justice about potential issues with Trump’s handling of classified documents in early 2022, sparking an investigation that resulted in an FBI search of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home. This culminated in Trump becoming the first former president charged with federal crimes.
The current archivist, Colleen Shogan, the first woman in the role, was not in the position at that time. David Ferriero, appointed by President Barack Obama in 2009, retired in April 2022. Shogan was nominated by President Joe Biden in August 2022, just days before the FBI search, and confirmed in May 2023 after a partisan battle over the agency’s role in the documents investigation.
The national archivist can be removed by the president, who can then appoint a successor confirmed by the Senate. Trump’s promise to replace the archivist is not unusual, but it aligns with his vow to dismantle what he calls the “deep state,” referring to federal civil servants and bureaucrats he believes are hostile to his views and those of Republicans.
Presidents are legally required to provide most of their records to the National Archives upon leaving office. When the National Archives discovered missing documents after Trump left office, they repeatedly demanded their return. According to the federal indictment, Trump eventually returned some documents but hid others. He was indicted on charges including willful retention of national defense information, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and false statements. Trump pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing. Prosecutors dropped the case after his Election Day victory, adhering to Justice Department policy that sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution.
