10/14/2026
🚨 Access, preservation and Tribal records: Two federal developments to watch
Federal actions affecting Tribal records are raising related concerns about long-term preservation and access. Plans to close National Archives facilities in San Bruno, California, and Chicago could affect access to historical records documenting Tribal Nations’ histories and relationships with the federal government, while a proposed Indian Affairs records schedule could make some records eligible for destruction after specified retention periods. TNPI examined concerns surrounding the National Archives closures in a Sept. 21 explainer and recently posted a call to action regarding consultations for record schedule changes.
This post provides updates on both developments, including NARA’s response to a coalition of federal lawmakers, Tribal listening sessions scheduled for October 2026 and opportunities for Tribal input on the proposed records schedule.
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đź“š Updates on National Archives closures
Plans to close National Archives facilities in San Bruno, California, and Chicago have raised concerns about access to historical records, including those documenting Tribal Nations’ histories and relationships with the federal government. TNPI examined these concerns in a Sept. 21 explainer. This post provides updates since then, including NARA’s response to a coalition of federal lawmakers and Tribal listening sessions scheduled for October 2026.
Led by U.S. Reps. Kevin Mullin and Judy Chu, both California Democrats, a bipartisan coalition of 37 lawmakers sent an Aug. 19 letter urging the National Archives and Records Administration to reconsider the San Bruno closure. The facility, officially known as the National Archives at San Francisco, holds immigration, naval, geological and Tribal records dating as far back as the 1850s.
According to the lawmakers’ letter, the facility serves an average of 500 researchers annually, and staff answer nearly 2,000 written reference requests from off-site researchers each year. In fiscal 2025, it had the fourth-most-used research room and the fifth-largest volume of off-site reference requests in NARA’s Field Division.
Lawmakers questioned whether required administrative procedures were followed and whether closing the facility would produce savings sufficient to justify the effects on public access. They also expressed concern that the proposed two- to three-year timeline would not allow enough time to safely relocate more than 100,000 cubic feet of permanent records.
Tribal historic preservation officers and scholars have raised concerns about the closures, the movement of records and the lack of Tribal consultation, urging NARA not to move forward until it holds meaningful consultation with Tribal Nations on preservation, digitization and continued access. Some Tribal leaders and advocates have said the process violates the federal government’s trust responsibility and nation-to-nation relationship with Tribes. Others have called for more transparency, congressional intervention and possible legal action.
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📍 NARA’s rationale and relocation plans
In an Oct. 5 response, NARA Chief Operating Officer Jay Trainer defended the San Bruno closure as part of the agency’s adjustment to electronic recordkeeping and underused storage space. He cited previous closures in Alaska and Massachusetts and the downsizing of archival facilities in Pennsylvania and Texas.
Trainer described San Bruno as one of NARA’s oldest and most expensive facilities. The agency expects vacating the building to save more than $4.7 million annually, with additional savings in personnel and operating costs.
The letter identifies Kansas City, Missouri, as the planned destination for San Bruno’s immigration records. It does not specifically address Tribal records or destinations for other collections. Separately, NARA’s published relocation plans identify Denver as the destination for San Bruno’s Bureau of Indian Affairs records and Kansas City as the destination for Chicago’s Bureau of Indian Affairs records.
Responding to lawmakers’ concerns about safely transporting historical documents, Trainer said NARA considers the two- to three-year move timeline adequate to protect records while maintaining daily services. He cited tested moving procedures and five facility closures completed without incident since 2022. However, the letter does not describe specific safeguards for fragile or sensitive Tribal records.
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⚖️ Legislation to protect archival facilities
Mullin introduced the National Archives Protection Act, H.R. 10131, on Aug. 20. The bill would prohibit the Archivist of the United States from closing existing records centers or archival facilities or imposing unreasonable restrictions on public access. It would also prohibit reconstruction, conversion or rehabilitation that would require relocating records for more than 180 days.
As of Oct. 13, the bill has 11 cosponsors and remains referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Its latest recorded legislative action is the Aug. 20 referral. It has not passed either chamber or become law.
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🚨 Opportunities for Tribal input on National Archives closures
NARA has scheduled virtual listening sessions for Tribal Nations interested in the Chicago and San Bruno facilities on Oct. 13 at 2 p.m. Eastern time and Oct. 15 at 3 p.m. Eastern time. Both meetings will cover the same content.
To register, email [email protected] with the meeting date or dates Tribal representatives plan to attend. NARA will provide connection information. The agency describes these meetings as listening sessions.
NARA says the facilities will close in the next few years. Updates on closures, record transfers and access are available on its researcher updates page.
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đź“‘ Related development: Indian Affairs records retention
Separate from the facility closures, the Bureau of Trust Funds Administration (BTFA) is proposing changes to the Indian Affairs records schedule covering its records and those of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Bureau of Indian Education (BIE). Records schedules determine how long agencies retain records and whether they are preserved permanently or become eligible for destruction.
While the facility closures raise questions about where records will be housed and how Tribal Nations will access them, the proposed schedule raises a related question: Which records documenting Tribal histories, rights and federal responsibilities will remain available to future generations?
Many records covered by the proposal are currently designated permanent under existing schedules. Under the new proposal Indian Child Welfare Act and adoption files, certain trust accounting records and specified law enforcement investigation files could become eligible for destruction no sooner than 50 years after cutoff, generally the end of the fiscal year in which an activity is completed or a case is closed. Certain trust and investigation records would also require agreement between records officers and designation as inactive before destruction.
General program records, including certain educational and school operations records, would be destroyed between 15 and 25 years after cutoff. Other categories, including historically and culturally significant records, would remain permanent.
The posted consultation materials describe record categories and examples but do not include inventories identifying individual affected records.
In a Sept. 25 Dear Tribal Leaders letter, Indian Affairs announced four virtual Tribal consultation sessions:
Oct. 26, 2026, from noon to 2 p.m. Eastern time.
Oct. 27, 2026, from 2 to 4 p.m. Central time.
Oct. 28, 2026, from 1 to 3 p.m. Mountain time.
Oct. 29, 2026, from 2 to 4 p.m. Pacific time.
Registration is required. Proposed materials and registration links are available on the records schedule consultation page.
Submit written comments to [email protected] by Nov. 30, 2026.
đź”— Links available on the TNPI blog (see comments).
