Urgent Action Needed to Protect National Archives and Historical Integrity

Subject: Urgent Action Needed to Protect National Archives and Historical Integrity I am writing to urgently request your immediate attention to the state of our nation’s historical records. I am alarmed by the recent dismissal of Colleen Joy Shogan, the Archivist of the United States. During her tenure, Shogan attempted to balance political pressures with the integrity of our archives, but recent developments suggest the national archives may be at risk. Stakeholders, including GOP members, have expressed an interest in presenting a “less confrontational” version of history, a move that could ultimately lead to the rewriting or erasure of critical historical records—records that are vital to understanding our past and guiding our future. The Presidential Records Act is meant to safeguard these records, but given the current administration’s disregard for established rules, I fear these protections will be ignored. Many historical documents have not yet been digitized and are not accessible outside the archives’ intranet, meaning once a physical record is deleted or altered, it is gone for good. This includes irreplaceable documents such as the U.S. Constitution and Native American treaties. The threat of having our history rewritten is grave, and it is essential that we act now to protect these records. I urge you to do everything in your power to protect the archives and preserve the integrity of our nation’s historical memory. Please take swift and decisive action to ensure that these records are safeguarded from alteration, destruction, or concealment. Our nation’s history and future depend on it. Thank you for your urgent attention to this matter. I trust you will take action to protect our national heritage.