NCISS Opposes Continued Destruction of Federal Agency Records

NCISS has been in communication with the Administrative Office of the United States Courts and the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) voicing our opposition to the current destruction of valuable federal records. We have urged they reconsider their current policy of record destruction

NCISS has also requested information from the NARA about new agency requests to destroy government records. NCISS is specifically requesting copies of information pertaining to records of the Transportation Security Administration regarding "workplace violence case files at national and local level, consisting of reference materials, drafts, photographs, reports, statements, and after action activities documentation". We are also requesting a copy of the NARA's assessment of these records. NCISS will review the materials to determine if they contain information that should be preserved for use in future investigations.

Approximately once a month, the NARA lists records that federal agencies would like to destroy. The latest list of records to be destroyed was just published today, http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-09-30/html/2011-25241.htm. The public has an opportunity to comment on whether such records are of such value that they should be retained. NCISS is monitoring this ongoing activity to see if any records being considered for destruction would have value in the course of an investigation.

As you know, the federal courts have scheduled a large amount of old court records for destruction. NCISS has urged the courts to make digital copies of records if they intend to go through with the destruction of paper records. We recognize that there is an ongoing cost to maintaining paper records. Rather than lose old records in their entirety, NCISS is urging NARA to insure materials to be destroyed have been digitally archived. While there is an upfront cost to doing so, the ongoing expenses should be minimal.

The NCISS Legislative Committee will continue to take the necessary action to insure our access to these records is not eliminated.