Electronic Records Archives (ERA)

Electronic Records Archives (ERA) is the National Archives’ platform for managing the lifecycle of federal records in digital form — letting agencies submit records schedules, request disposition authority, and transfer permanent records electronically rather than on paper or physical media. It matters because the federal government has moved toward fully electronic recordkeeping, and a born-digital record needs a born-digital path into archival custody that preserves its content, structure, and context over time.

ERA addresses the recurring problem of long-term digital preservation: file formats become obsolete and storage media degrade, so the system emphasizes durable formats, captured metadata, and documented provenance so records remain authentic and usable for decades. For example, an agency closing out a permanent program file no longer ships boxes; it transfers the electronic records and their metadata through the system for accession into the National Archives. This reflects the broader shift in electronic records requirements — away from a single legacy product certification and toward functional, format-neutral preservation criteria.