AC 03.2026
Date: February 04, 2026
Memorandum to Federal Records Management Contacts: Annual Federal Records Management Reminders
This memo reminds agencies of their continued responsibility to manage records in accordance with the Federal Records Act. All federal employees create and manage records as an integral part of their responsibilities in performing agency missions. Federal records protect the rights and interests of the public, allow officials to be held accountable for their actions, and document our nation's history. Good records management also helps your agency operate more effectively and efficiently.
Federal agencies are responsible for maintaining robust records management programs that comply with the Federal Records Act and its regulations by:
- Designating a Senior Agency Official for Records Management who is at the Assistant Secretary level or equivalent and has direct responsibility for ensuring that the agency efficiently and appropriately complies with all applicable records management statutes, regulations, and policies.
- Designating an Agency Records Officer who is responsible for overseeing agency recordkeeping requirements and operations, and holds the NARA Certificate of Federal Records Management Training.
- Annually informing all agency personnel of their records management responsibilities in law, regulation, and policy, and provide training specific to the practices and policies of the organization.
- Ensuring all records created or maintained by the agency are covered by a NARA-approved records schedule and permanent records are transferred to the National Archives when they reach their scheduled disposition date.
- Ensuring NARA-approved records schedules are updated as business practices transition to electronic workflows.
We would like to highlight the following resources on relevant records management topics:
- Records Management Resources for Agencies Undergoing Reorganizations or Other Major Changes
- AC Memo 35.2025: Electronic Messaging Compliance Assessment Toolkit
- AC Memo 23.2025: Recordkeeping Requirements for Records Created on Third-Party Messaging Applications
- Records Management Guidance for Political Appointees and Senior Officials
- Records Management Guidance for Federal Employees
Last year NARA sent a Letter to Agency Heads Concerning Federal Records Management Responsibilities for Agencies emphasizing the crucial importance of agency heads working with their Senior Agency Official for Records Management and Agency Records Officers to support records management. All agency officials and employees must be properly trained on their records management responsibilities.
Please send any questions about your agency’s records management responsibilities to records.management@nara.gov.
WILLIAM FISCHER
Chief Records Officer
for the U.S. Government (Acting)