Government reinstates job losses, focusing on National Archives personnel

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) has initiated a second round of layoffs, with the aim to impact around 3% of its staff, or approximately 100 employees. The decision was made in response to a requirement from President Trump that all agencies reshape their organizations.

In an effort to limit the impact of the layoffs, NARA is offering voluntary separation incentives. However, it's important to note that the layoffs at NARA will not be limited to the RIFs (Reductions in Force), as many workers have already taken buyouts or early retirement offers.

The first round of layoffs at NARA "wiped out" the Office of Innovation and the division that provides support to field offices and presidential libraries. This move is intended to enable faster public access to NARA's records, artifacts, and holdings.

Notices for the layoffs were sent out on Monday to some employees, with the remaining notices to be sent on June 30. Employees have warned that facilities would be short-staffed, museum programming would be limited, and record retrieval (including for veterans) would likely see backlogs due to the layoffs.

The layoffs at NARA come amidst a legal battle over RIFs at other agencies. Sen. Marco Rubio attempted to implement RIFs at the State Department over the weekend, but was blocked in federal court at the 11th hour. The case is now pending before the Supreme Court.

It's worth noting that Trump fired Colleen Shogan, the most recent U.S. Archivist, earlier this year. Marco Rubio was named acting archivist by Trump, but James Byron, president of the Richard Nixon Foundation, is currently managing the agency on a day-to-day basis.

The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston temporarily closed due to layoffs of probationary employees by NARA in February. The decisions were made carefully and strategically, according to Valorie Findlater, the head of administration and management at the National Archives and Records Administration.

Despite a federal judge blocking the implementation of RIFs at nearly two-dozen agencies, NARA is not one of them. Many of the agencies affected by the court case are prepared to move swiftly to implement layoffs of their own should the justices rule in the administration's favor.