WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Following his controversial management of classified materials, President-elect Donald Trump has announced plans to replace the leadership of the National Archives, thereby bringing renewed focus to the agency and its operations.
In a conversation with radio host Hugh Hewitt, Trump stated, “We will have a new archivist.” This statement come after the National Archives alerted the Department of Justice in early 2022 regarding concerns about Trump’s handling of sensitive documents, which triggered a federal investigation and led to an FBI raid on his Mar-a-Lago estate. This marked a historic moment as Trump became the first former president to face federal criminal charges.
Colleen Shogan currently serves as the archivist, becoming the first woman to hold this position. However, at the time of the Archives’ notification to the Justice Department, she was not in office; that role was previously held by David Ferriero, who announced his retirement in January 2022. Ferriero had been appointed by President Barack Obama. Shogan’s nomination by President Joe Biden came just days before the FBI executed a search of Trump’s property, but she was not confirmed until May of the following year due to a protracted partisan struggle concerning the agency’s involvement in the investigation.
The president has the authority to dismiss the national archivist and appoint a successor, who must then be approved by the Senate. Trump’s announcement is consistent with this presidential power. Nonetheless, he has expressed a determined vision to dismantle what he refers to as the “deep state,” a term he uses to describe a perceived entrenched federal bureaucracy that he believes opposes his and other Republicans’ beliefs.
Presidents are obligated to transition most of their records to the National Archives upon leaving office. However, after Trump’s departure, the Archives noted that certain documents were missing and made multiple requests for their return, as stated in the federal indictment.
While Trump eventually returned some of the documents, he allegedly concealed others, leading to charges brought against him by special counsel Jack Smith. These charges included willful retention of national defense information, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and making false statements. Trump has maintained his innocence and has denied any wrongdoing. Following his Election Day win in November, prosecutors sought to dismiss the case, in alignment with a longstanding Justice Department policy asserting that current presidents cannot be criminally prosecuted.
