NARA's Role in Federal Recordkeeping

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) plays two intertwined roles in U.S. federal recordkeeping: it is the government’s permanent recordkeeper, and it is the overseer of how every agency manages its records. Understanding both explains why NARA appears at nearly every stage of the federal records lifecycle.

Preserving permanent records

A small fraction of federal records are appraised as having enduring value. These permanent records are eventually transferred to NARA, which preserves them and makes them available to the public — from founding documents to agency case files. This is the role most people associate with “the Archives.”

Overseeing federal records management

The larger, less visible role is oversight. Under the Federal Records Act, NARA:

Issues regulations (36 CFR Chapter XII) and guidance that agencies must follow.
Approves records schedules, including the government-wide General Records Schedule, and authorizes the disposition of federal records.
Sets modernization policy — notably the move to fully electronic recordkeeping and the Universal ERM Requirements under FERMI.
Monitors and reports on agencies’ records management through tools like the annual Federal Agency Records Management self-assessment.

Specialized programs

NARA also runs programs that touch specific areas of recordkeeping:

The Information Security Oversight Office (ISOO) oversees the classification and declassification system.
The National Declassification Center (NDC) coordinates declassification of permanently valuable classified records.
The Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) is the federal FOIA ombudsman.
NARA administers the Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) program.

Why it matters

Because NARA both sets the rules and holds the permanent records, its guidance effectively defines good federal recordkeeping. Agencies look to NARA to know how to schedule, manage, and ultimately transfer their records — and the public relies on NARA to preserve and open the documentary record of the government. See the federal records management hub for the full framework.