Trump removes Colleen Shogan as head of the National Archives

• President Donald Trump dismissed Colleen J. Shogan as the head of the National Archives on Friday, Feb. 7, continuing his efforts to reshape federal agencies. The move follows his previous vow to replace her, citing the agency’s involvement in the classified documents case linked to his Mar-a-Lago estate.
• Shogan, who was appointed by President Joe Biden and confirmed in 2023, announced her termination on LinkedIn, stating that no reason was provided.
• The National Archives played a key role in the FBI’s investigation into Trump’s handling of classified materials, though Shogan was not in charge at the time.

Full Story

President Donald Trump dismissed Colleen J. Shogan as head of the National Archives and Records Administration on Friday, Feb. 7, following through on a pledge to shake up the leadership of the federal agency. The decision comes as part of a broader restructuring effort within the Trump administration, which has targeted officials involved in previous investigations into the former president.

Why did Trump fire Colleen Shogan?

Shogan, who was appointed by President Joe Biden in 2022 and confirmed by the Senate in 2023, announced her termination in a LinkedIn post, stating:

“No cause or reason was cited. It has been an honor serving as the 11th Archivist of the United States. I have zero regrets—I absolutely did my best every day for the National Archives and the American people.”

Download the SAN app today to stay up-to-date with Unbiased. Straight Facts™.

Point phone camera here

Shortly after, White House Director of Presidential Personnel Sergio Gor confirmed the dismissal on X, writing:

“At the direction of @realDonaldTrump the Archivist of the United States has been dismissed tonight. We thank Colleen Shogan for her service.”

At the direction of @realDonaldTrump the Archivist of the United States has been dismissed tonight. We thank Colleen Shogan for her service.

— Sergio Gor (@SergioGor) February 8, 2025

Shogan’s removal was widely expected after Trump said in a January 2025 interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt:

“We will have a new archivist.”

What role did the National Archives play in Trump’s legal troubles?

The National Archives, an independent agency, typically operates outside of partisan conflicts. However, it became a focal point of controversy when it sought to retrieve classified documents that Trump took to Mar-a-Lago at the end of his first term.

• January 2022: The agency recovered 15 boxes of White House records from Trump’s Florida estate. The boxes contained highly classified materials mixed with newspaper clippings and dinner menus. Archives officials believed more records were missing and referred the case to the FBI.
• August 2022: The FBI searched Mar-a-Lago, uncovering additional classified materials, triggering a 40-count federal indictment against Trump.

Shogan was not leading the National Archives during the initial investigation into Trump’s handling of classified documents. The agency’s referral to the FBI occurred in 2022, before Shogan’s September 2022 Senate hearing and May 2023 confirmation. Despite this, Republican senators overwhelmingly opposed her nomination due to her agency’s role in the Trump investigation.

What happened to Trump’s classified documents case?

Trump denied any wrongdoing, arguing that the documents belonged to him and should not have been returned to the National Archives. Special Counsel Jack Smith charged Trump with illegally hoarding classified documents and conspiring to obstruct justice. However, in 2024, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee dismissed the federal indictment, ruling that Smith’s appointment was unconstitutional.

Following Trump’s victory in the 2024 election, Smith resigned from the Justice Department. The DOJ fired over a dozen officials involved in Trump-related cases.

Who is taking over as national archivist?

For now, Deputy Archivist William J. Bosanko is serving as acting archivist of the United States. In an internal memo to National Archives employees, Bosanko wrote, “In accordance with statute, I am temporarily assuming the role as Acting Archivist. We will share more information with you as soon as possible.”

The Trump administration has not yet announced a permanent replacement for Shogan.

What was Shogan’s background before becoming archivist?

Shogan was the first woman to serve as archivist of the United States. Previously, she worked as senior vice president at the David M. Rubenstein Center at the White House Historical Association. She also held positions at the U.S. Senate and the Library of Congress.

Her tenure at NARA was marked by controversy. The Wall Street Journal reported that Shogan made exhibit changes at the National Archives Museum that some longtime employees viewed as censorship. In 2023, Shogan invited former First Lady Melania Trump to a naturalization ceremony at the Archives. At the event, Shogan presented Melania Trump with the conviction record of Susan B. Anthony, who was arrested for voting before women had the right, as well as Trump’s 2020 presidential pardon of Anthony.

David S. Ferriero, Shogan’s predecessor, retired in 2022, stating that he wanted Biden to appoint his replacement.

What’s next for the National Archives?

With Shogan out and Bosanko acting as temporary archivist, the agency’s future remains uncertain. Trump’s ongoing disputes over presidential records could continue to shape NARA’s role in his administration. The appointment of a new archivist could also further shift how government records are handled in the coming years.

Get up to speed on the stories leading the day every weekday morning. Sign up for the newsletter today!

Learn more about our emails. Unsubscribe anytime.

Enter your email for newsletter updates Subscribe

By entering your email, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and acknowledge the Privacy Policy.

For now, NARA employees await further guidance from the administration on what direction the agency will take next.