WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — President-elect Donald Trump has declared his plan to replace the head of the National Archives, drawing renewed scrutiny to the agency in light of his recent federal indictment concerning the mishandling of sensitive documents.
During a conversation with radio host Hugh Hewitt on Monday, Trump remarked, “We will have a new archivist.”
Trump’s dissatisfaction with the National Archives stems from its decision to alert the Department of Justice about potential discrepancies in his handling of classified materials in early 2022. This action triggered an investigation that culminated in a major FBI raid at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, marking him as the first former president to face federal charges.
Colleen Shogan, the current archivist, made history as the first woman to hold the position, although she was not in office when these events unfolded.
Shogan, nominated by President Joe Biden in August 2022, faced a lengthy confirmation process that concluded in May of the following year amid a contentious political battle over the agency’s role in the investigation regarding the sensitive documents removed from Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida.
Presidents possess the authority to dismiss the national archivist and appoint a successor, who must then be confirmed by the Senate, making Trump’s pledge to make a change a typical exercise of presidential power.
However, Trump has also emphasized his intent to dismantle what he refers to as the “deep state,” a vague term he uses to describe various factions within the federal government, including civil servants and bureaucrats whom he perceives as opposing his and the Republican Party’s beliefs.
Upon leaving office, former presidents are legally required to transfer the majority of their records to the National Archives. After the agency noted that several documents were missing from its collection following Trump’s presidency, it made repeated requests for their return, as detailed in the federal indictment.
Although Trump later returned some documents, the indictment claims that he withheld others. Special counsel Jack Smith subsequently charged him with offenses including willful retention of national defense information, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and making false statements.
Trump has entered a plea of not guilty and denies any wrongdoing. After his victory on Election Day in November, prosecutors moved to dismiss the case, adhering to the long-standing policy of the Justice Department that prevents the criminal prosecution of sitting presidents.
