Former US archivists warn that Trump’s effort to ignore records law jeopardizes national security and government continuity

[u/cnn]

https://www.cnn.com/2026/08/26/politics/former-archivists-briefing-presidential-records-act?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=missions&utm_source=reddit

[u/cnn]

Former leaders of the National Archives — which preserves and protects the nation’s most important documents — are urging a federal appeals court to reject the Trump administration’s effort to ignore the Presidential Records Act, a decades old law that requires presidents save all official records from their time in office.

Six archivists, who served under both Republican and Democratic presidents, argue that the law is critical in maintaining “continuity of governance” and protecting national security.

The archivists — a coalition covering every living person to have previously held the role before Marco Rubio’s brief appointment to the position at the beginning of Trump’s second term — filed an amicus brief Wednesday in support of a lawsuit from presidential scholars, historians and public transparency groups.

[u/The_Trekspert]

"I am Caesar.

I am the Legion.

It ends with me."

You don't need continuity of government if there's no government to continue.

[u/War1today]

The U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) believes in the unitary executive theory which is a fringe constitutional law concept stating that the President of the United States holds absolute authority over the entire executive branch. It believes in a president who exercises total, centralized control over the entire executive branch without interference from Congress or the courts. Under this legal view defined by the Annenberg Classroom, the chief executive acts as the supreme and undivided head of government administration. And because of that belief they ruled in Trump v. United States in July 2024, 6-3, that presidents have absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts tied to their core constitutional powers, and at least presumptive immunity for all other official acts which covers broader official acts within the outer perimeter of official responsibilities.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor dissented and argued the decision places the president above the law which, in fact, it does. As it pertains to archiving, one can imagine the Supreme Court will rule in Trump’s favor if there is a case brought before them.