National Archives Seeks Input on Trashing Dusty Government Records
Published Date: 9/28/2026
Notice
Summary
The National Archives is sharing new plans from federal agencies about which old records they want to toss because they’re no longer needed. If you have thoughts, you’ve got until November 12, 2026, to speak up! This helps keep government files tidy and saves money by clearing out clutter.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Some federal records may be kept or destroyed
Federal agencies have proposed schedules that would either transfer records of continuing value to the National Archives or authorize the destruction of records after a set retention period. The notice lists four pending schedules: NASA — Occupational Health and Medicine (DAA-0255-2025-0006); NHTSA — Occupant Protection Surveys (DAA-0416-2025-0004); NOAA — Fishery Loan Case Files (DAA-0370-2026-0005); and U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Conveyance Identification Capability Records (DAA-0568-2025-0002).
You can comment — deadline Nov 12, 2026
You can submit public comments on the proposed agency records schedules at https://www.regulations.gov (docket NARA-26-0463) by November 12, 2026. Use the schedule's control number when commenting or email NARA for alternative submission instructions.
Comments (including personal data) posted publicly
NARA will post comments, including any personal information and attachments, to the public docket on regulations.gov unchanged. If you need to submit confidential information or cannot use regulations.gov, you must contact NARA at the provided email for instructions.
Final schedules and replies posted publicly
After the Archivist approves a schedule, NARA will post a Consolidated Reply on regulations.gov summarizing and responding to comments, and will post approved schedules to the Records Control Schedule (RCS) Repository at https://www.archives.gov/records-mgmt/rcs. You can opt to receive updates on the docket to be alerted when the Consolidated Reply is posted.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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