Sponsors (12)
The bill preserves guaranteed local, in-person access to existing archival records and reduces disruptions from moving records, but it constrains the Archivist’s flexibility to modernize or consolidate facilities—raising risks to preservation, safety, and ongoing taxpayer costs.
Researchers, historians, and the public continue to have guaranteed in-person access to existing National Archives records centers and archives because the bill bars closures or new access restrictions.
Federal, state, and local agencies and users face fewer disruptions and delays because records housed in older facilities are less likely to be moved for long periods.
Researchers, taxpayers, and archivists could face increased risk to long-term preservation and availability of records if necessary repairs or safety upgrades are blocked because renovations requiring moving records for more than 180 days are prevented.
Taxpayers and federal employees could incur higher maintenance and operational costs because the bill limits the Archivist's ability to modernize, retrofit, or consolidate facilities.
The National Archives may be forced to keep underused or costly facilities open to avoid 'closing' them, increasing recurring costs borne by taxpayers.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Prevents the Archivist from closing or unreasonably restricting pre-existing archive facilities and forbids renovations that relocate records for more than 180 days.
Official title: To amend title 44, United States Code, to prohibit the closure of Federal records centers, and for other purposes.
Introduced August 20, 2026 by Kevin Mullin · Last progress August 20, 2026
Prohibits the Archivist of the United States from closing or placing unreasonable access restrictions on records centers or archive facilities that existed before this law, and bars reconstruction or conversion work that would require relocating records for more than 180 days. It also makes a minor textual change to the cited statute. The measure is narrowly focused on preserving public access to existing National Archives facilities and limiting long-term relocations of records during facility work. It does not create new funding or major administrative programs.