WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — President-elect Donald Trump has announced his intention to replace the head of the National Archives, bringing renewed attention to the agency following his federal indictment related to the mishandling of sensitive documents.
“We will have a new archivist,” Trump stated during an interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt on Monday.
His frustration with the agency stems from its decision to notify the Department of Justice about potential issues concerning Trump’s management of classified materials in early 2022. This action initiated an investigation that led to a significant FBI raid on Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence, making him the first former president to face federal charges.
The current archivist, Colleen Shogan, who made history as the first woman to hold the position, was not in office at that time.
Nominated by President Joe Biden in August 2022, Shogan’s confirmation came in May of the following year after a protracted partisan struggle over the agency’s involvement in the investigation into the sensitive documents taken from Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida.
Presidents have the authority to remove the national archivist, appointing a successor who is then subject to Senate confirmation, making Trump’s promise to do so a standard presidential prerogative.
Nonetheless, Trump has expressed his commitment to dismantling what he describes as the “deep state,” a vague term he uses to refer to various elements within the federal government, including civil servants and bureaucrats whom he believes are opposed to his and the Republican Party’s ideologies.
Upon leaving office, former presidents are mandated by law to transfer most of their records to the National Archives. Once the agency discovered that several documents were missing from its collection post-Trump’s presidency, it repeatedly requested their return, as outlined in the federal indictment.
While Trump eventually returned some documents, the indictment alleges that he concealed others. Special counsel Jack Smith subsequently indicted him on charges including willful retention of national defense information, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and making false statements and representations.
Trump has pleaded not guilty and denies any wrongdoing. Following his victory on Election Day in November, prosecutors sought to drop the case, aligning with long-standing Justice Department policy that stipulates sitting presidents cannot be criminally prosecuted.
