US Code

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

44 U.S.C. § 2906

Inspection of agency records

(a)
(1)
1
1 So in original.
In carrying out the duties and responsibilities under this chapter, the Archivist (or the the  Archivist’s designee) may inspect the records or the records management practices and programs of any Federal agency for the purpose of rendering recommendations for the improvement of records management practices and programs and for determining whether the records of Federal agencies have sufficient value to warrant continued preservation or lack sufficient value to justify continued preservation. Officers and employees of such agencies shall cooperate fully in such inspections, subject to the provisions of paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection.
(2)
Records, the use of which is restricted by law or for reasons of national security or the public interest, shall be inspected, in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Archivist, subject to the approval of the head of the agency concerned or of the President.
(3)
section 552a of title 5 If the Archivist (or the Archivist’s designee) inspects a record, as provided in this subsection, which is contained in a system of records which is subject to , such record shall be—
(A)
maintained by the Archivist or such designee as a record contained in a system of records; or
(B)
section 552a of title 5 deemed to be a record contained in a system of records for purposes of subsections (b), (c), and (i) of .
(b)
In conducting the inspection of agency records provided for in subsection (a) of this section, the Archivist (or the Archivist’s designee) shall, in addition to complying with the provisions of law cited in subsection (a)(3), comply with all other Federal laws and be subject to the sanctions provided therein.
(c)
The Administrator (or the Administrator’s designee) may inspect the mail processing practices and programs of any Federal agency for the purpose of rendering recommendations for the improvement of mail processing practices and programs. Officers and employees of such agencies shall cooperate fully in such inspections of mail processing practices and programs.

Pub. L. 94–575, § 2(a)(3)90 Stat. 2725Pub. L. 98–497, title I, § 107(b)(17)98 Stat. 2289Pub. L. 113–187, § 9(d)128 Stat. 2013Pub. L. 115–85, § 2(a)(3)131 Stat. 1275(Added , , ; amended , , ; , , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Pub. L. 90–62082 Stat. 1297Pub. L. 94–575, § 2(a)(3)A prior section 2906, , , , contained provisions similar to those comprising subsec. (a)(1) and (2) of this section, prior to repeal by .

Amendments

Pub. L. 115–85, § 2(a)(3)Pub. L. 113–187, § 9(d)(3)2017—Subsec. (c). , added . See 2014 Amendment note below.

Pub. L. 113–187, § 9(d)(1)(A)2014—Subsec. (a)(1). , substituted “the duties” for “their respective duties” and “the Archivist’s designee” for “designee of either”, struck out “the Administrator of General Services and” before “the Archivist” and “solely” after “any Federal agency”, and inserted “and for determining whether the records of Federal agencies have sufficient value to warrant continued preservation or lack sufficient value to justify continued preservation” after “for the improvement of records management practices and programs”.

Pub. L. 113–187, § 9(d)(1)(B)Subsec. (a)(2). , struck out “the Administrator and” before “the Archivist” and “The regulations promulgated by the Administrator and the Archivist under this paragraph shall, to the extent practicable, be identical.” at end.

Pub. L. 113–187, § 9(d)(1)(C)Subsec. (a)(3). , in introductory provisions, struck out “the Administrator or” before “the Archivist” and substituted “Archivist’s designee” for “designee of either” and, in subpar. (A), substituted “the Archivist” for “the Administrator, the Archivist,”.

Pub. L. 113–187, § 9(d)(2)Subsec. (b). , struck out “the Administrator and” before “the Archivist” and substituted “Archivist’s designee” for “designee of either”.

Pub. L. 113–187, § 9(d)(3)Pub. L. 115–85, § 2(a)(3)Subsec. (c). , as added by , added subsec. (c).

Pub. L. 98–4971984— inserted reference to Archivist in four places in subsecs. (a) and (b) and inserted at end of subsec. (b)(2) “The regulations promulgated by the Administrator and the Archivist under this paragraph shall, to the extent practicable, be identical.”

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2017 Amendment

Pub. L. 115–85Pub. L. 113–187section 2(b) of Pub. L. 115–85section 2902 of this titleAmendment by effective as if included in , see , set out as a note under .

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 .