US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

44 U.S.C. § 2108

Responsibility for custody, use, and withdrawal of records

(a)
1
1 So in original.
The Archivist shall be responsible for the custody, use, and withdrawal of records transferred to him. When records, the use of which is subject to statutory limitations and restrictions, are so transferred, permissive and restrictive statutory provisions with respect to the examination and use of records applicable to the head of the agency from which the records were transferred or to employees of that agency are applicable to the Archivist and to the employees of the National Archives and Records Administration, respectively. Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, when the head of a Federal agency states, in writing, restrictions that appear to him to be necessary or desirable in the public interest with respect to the use or examination of rec­ords being considered for transfer from his custody to the Archivist, the Archivist shall, if he concurs,, impose such restrictions on the records so transferred, and may not relax or remove such restrictions without the written concurrence of the head of the agency from which the material was transferred, or of his successor in function, if any. In the event that a Federal agency is terminated and there is no successor in function, the Archivist is authorized to relax, remove, or impose restrictions on such agency’s records when he determines that such action is in the public interest. Statutory and other restrictions referred to in this subsection shall remain in force until the records have been in existence for thirty years unless the Archivist by order, having consulted with the head of the transferring Federal agency or his successor in function, determines, with respect to specific bodies of records, that for reasons consistent with standards established in relevant statutory law, such restrictions shall remain in force for a longer period. Restriction on the use or examination of records deposited with the National Archives of the United States imposed by section 3 of the National Archives Act, approved , shall continue in force regardless of the expiration of the tenure of office of the official who imposed them but may be removed or relaxed by the Archivist with the concurrence in writing of the head of the agency from which material was transferred or of his successor in function, if any.
(b)
With regard to the census and survey rec­ords of the Bureau of the Census containing data identifying individuals enumerated in population censuses, any release pursuant to this section of such identifying information contained in such records shall be made by the Archivist pursuant to the specifications and agreements set forth in the exchange of correspondence on or about the date of , between the Director of the Bureau of the Census and the Archivist of the United States, together with all amendments thereto, now or hereafter entered into between the Director of the Bureau of the Census and the Archivist of the United States. Such amendments, if any, shall be published in the Register.

Pub. L. 90–62082 Stat. 1288Pub. L. 95–416, § 1(b)92 Stat. 915Pub. L. 98–497, title I98 Stat. 2280(, , , § 2104; , , ; renumbered § 2108 and amended , §§ 102(a)(1), 107(a)(2), , , 2285.)

Historical and Revision Notes

June 30, 1949, ch. 288Sept. 5, 1950, ch. 849, § 6(d)64 Stat. 583Based on 44 U.S. Code, 1964 ed., § 397(b) (, title V, § 507, as added , ).

Editorial Notes

References in Text

act June 30, 1949, ch. 288, title VI, § 602(a)(32)Sept. 5, 1950, ch. 849, § 7(d)64 Stat. 590Section 3 of the National Archives Act, approved , referred to in subsec. (a), was classified to section 300c of former Title 44, Public Printing and Documents, and was repealed by , renumbered and added , .

Prior Provisions

section 2112 of this titleA prior section 2108 was renumbered .

Amendments

Pub. L. 98–497, § 107(a)(2)1984—Subsec. (a). , substituted “the Archivist and to the employees of the National Archives and Records Administration” for “the Administrator, the Archivist of the United States, and to the employees of the General Services Administration”, struck out “and in consultation with the Archivist of the United States” before “impose such restrictions” in third sentence, struck out “the Archivist and” after “having consulted with” in fifth sentence, substituted “Archivist” for “Administrator of General Services” wherever appearing, and substituted “Archivist” for “Administrator” wherever appearing.

Pub. L. 98–497, § 107(a)(2)(D)Subsec. (b). , substituted “Archivist” for “Administrator of General Services”.

Pub. L. 95–4161978— designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), inserted provisions permitting the Administrator to relax, remove, or impose restrictions in the public interest of records of agencies which have been terminated and requiring the Administrator with regard to duration of restrictions to consult with the Archivist and the head of the transferring Federal agency or his successor in function, and substituted “thirty years” for “fifty years”, and added subsec. (b).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

Pub. L. 98–497section 301 of Pub. L. 98–497section 2102 of this titleAmendment by effective , see , set out as a note under .

Procedures To Prevent Unauthorized Removal of Classified Records From National Archives

Pub. L. 113–187, § 6128 Stat. 2010

“(a)

Classified Records .—

Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [], the Archivist shall prescribe internal procedures to prevent the unauthorized removal of classified records from the National Archives and Records Administration or the destruction or damage of such records, including when such records are accessed or searched electronically. Such procedures shall include, at a minimum, the following prohibitions:
“(1)
An individual, other than covered personnel, may not view classified records in any room that is not secure, except in the presence of National Archives and Records Administration personnel or under video surveillance.
“(2)
An individual, other than covered personnel, may not be left alone with classified records, unless that individual is under video surveillance.
“(3)
An individual, other than covered personnel, may not review classified records while possessing any cellular phone, electronic personal communication device, or any other devices capable of photographing, recording, or transferring images or content.
“(4)
An individual seeking access to review classified records, as a precondition to such access, must consent to a search of their belongings upon conclusion of their records review.
“(5)
All notes and other writings prepared by an individual, other than covered personnel, during the course of a review of classified records shall be retained by the National Archives and Records Administration in a secure facility until such notes and other writings are determined to be unclassified, are declassified, or are securely transferred to another secure facility.
“(b)

Definitions .—

In this section:
“(1)

Covered personnel .—

The term ‘covered personnel’ means any individual—
“(A)
who has an appropriate and necessary reason for accessing classified records, as determined by the Archivist; and
“(B)
who is either—
“(i)
an officer or employee of the United States Government with appropriate security clearances; or
“(ii)
any personnel with appropriate security clearances of a Federal contractor authorized in writing to act for purposes of this section by an officer or employee of the United States Government.
“(2)

Records .—

section 3301 of title 44The term ‘records’ has the meaning given that term under , United States Code.”
, , , provided that: