Jim Byron, the new senior advisor to acting head archivist, Marco Rubio, sent out his first internal staff letter outlining changes and new initiatives at the agency.
Littera scripta manet, Latin for “the written letter remains,” is how former deputy archivist and acting head of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), William J. Bosanko, addressed staff in his internal resignation letter on Feb. 14.
Bosanko was pushed out by Trump appointee Jim Byron, now senior advisor to Marco Rubio, the Secretary of State and acting archivist responsible for the day-to-day operations at NARA, in what’s been called a hostile takeover of the agency. The Trump administration is gouging federal agencies as part of its budget cuts.
There’s much concern about the fate of the “written letter” and NARA, the custodian of our nation’s historical documents and therefore historical truth, as Trump cuts key staff and replaces them with political operatives.
“It’s highly concerning to have people who have not been vetted, had no background checks, maybe having access to our records,” said someone with knowledge of the situation. “We’re the repository for these government records. The heart of NARA is meant to be for the people, a record of history. We’re very worried about what it means for [the new administration] to have access to actual physical records.”
Byron blasted out his first official letter to the diminished NARA staff on Friday. NARA has lost about 90 people so far from top leaders to new staff still in their “probationary” first year at the agency. More cuts are expected.
Specific items in Byron’s missive alarmed staff members. In the letter, Byron states, “We are right now evaluating all current operations and functions as well as revisiting priorities set under prior leadership and setting new priorities.” DCReport viewed a copy of the letter.
Trump’s takeover of NARA is chilling because it gives him the power to literally reshape history to his liking. Take January 6, 2021, a day of violence and insurrection. Trump and his followers have whitewashed it and call it “a day of love.”
Byron’s letter may have been vague in detail, but it signaled disturbing activity to come.
Another item from Byron’s letter that concerns NARA staff is the mention of the upcoming 250thanniversary of the Declaration of Independence on July 4. Byron said in his letter that this occasion is “the most significant opportunity to share the mission of the National Archives with fellow citizens and the wider world,” also noting the opportunity to participate in the wider celebrations, as many institutions will be honoring the anniversary.
Byron’s mention of the anniversary concerns NARA staff because it signals the probability of the new administration meddling with the permanent displays at the National Archives, something previous administrations did not do. The recently fired director of exhibitions spearheaded all work and preparation for the permanent display and the upcoming 250th anniversary. These are projects years in the making. Staff is now worried the exhibits will get “sidelined or redone.”
People on the foundation side of presidential libraries, like Byron, who previously helmed the Richard Nixon Foundation, are not typically involved with content; that is NARA’s mandate, which also oversees presidential libraries and museums, like the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum in Yorba Linda, Calif. “It’s a strange move to put someone from a foundation in this role. You need an academic and professional background,” to work at NARA, according to a person familiar with the situation.
Trump’s firing of Archivist for the United States Colleen Shogan and the dismissal of Bosanko, go against protocol and federal law. The president can fire an archivist, but they must present the reasons for the dismissal to both the Congress and Senate. And federal law dictates that the deputy archivist serves as the head of the agency until that position is filled. Trump ignored both protocol and federal law with agency staff firings and appointees.
Byron’s letter also reinforces that NARA will soon “exercise maximum transparency” with the release of files related to the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, his brother, Attorney General, Robert F. Kennedy, and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This follows Trump’s executive order dated Jan. 23 to release previous classified and redacted records to the public.
Earlier this month, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced the discovery of 2,400 new records related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and that it was working with federal agencies, including NARA, on the release of the new files in accordance with Trump’s executive order.
The FBI said it is working to transfer the records to the National Archives and Records Administration to be included in the declassification process.
Stay tuned.