Erasing History: Trump’s Firing of the Archivist Is a Power Grab
First, he attacked journalists. Now he’s coming for the record keepers. What happens when the truth is no longer protected?
In a move that should alarm anyone who values truth, transparency, and democracy, President Donald Trump has fired Colleen Shogan, the Archivist of the United States—the official responsible for preserving the nation’s historical and government records. The reason? Trump and his allies claim she was part of a political effort against him.
But there’s one problem: Shogan wasn’t even in charge when the classified documents scandal that Trump is so enraged about unfolded.
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A Firing That Defies Logic
Trump’s battle with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) dates back to early 2022 when archivists flagged missing classified materials that had been improperly taken from the White House and stored at Mar-a-Lago. This triggered the Department of Justice investigation that ultimately led to the FBI’s August 2022 search of Trump’s Florida estate.
However, Colleen Shogan wasn’t even on the job at the time. She was nominated by President Biden in 2022 but wasn’t confirmed by the Senate until May 2023—long after NARA had already played its role in exposing Trump’s mishandling of classified documents. In other words, she had nothing to do with the original scandal.
And yet, Trump fired her anyway.
Meanwhile, her temporary replacement, William Bosanko, was involved in NARA’s efforts to retrieve Trump’s records. If Trump’s claim was that Shogan had acted politically, why elevate someone who had a direct role in the document recovery process? The logic doesn’t hold—because this was never about Shogan personally. This was about something more significant: dismantling oversight and rewriting history.
Archivists Aren’t Political—But Trump Is Making Them a Target
The position of the Archivist of the United States has never been political. Archivists don’t prosecute crimes, set policies, or take sides—they preserve the facts. Their job is to protect and maintain historical records, ensuring that the actions of government officials, past and present, are documented for the public and future generations.
Until Trump, no president had ever directly fired an Archivist for political reasons. The role was considered so neutral that past archivists served under both Democratic and Republican administrations without controversy.
However, Trump has made the simple act of preserving government records a political battlefield. Why? Because a strong, independent National Archives threatens his ability to control the narrative.
A War on Oversight, Journalism, and Truth
Trump’s dismissal of Shogan is not an isolated act—it is part of a coordinated strategy to eliminate independent oversight, suppress journalism, and rewrite history.
🔴 Destroying Oversight
Firing Shogan means Trump can install a loyalist who will not challenge him if he mishandles, withholds, or destroys government records.
The National Archives, which has historically been a safeguard against government corruption, is now being placed under direct political control.
🔵 Silencing Independent Journalism
Trump has threatened PBS and NPR, encouraging FCC investigations and calling for defunding public media.
He has sued major news organizations, pressuring them into multi-million-dollar settlements—a move critics say is intended to intimidate the free press.
🟢 Rewriting History
Trump’s allies have pushed for school book bans, particularly targeting history and civil rights education.
Now, with control over the National Archives, he can shape how his presidency is documented, controlling what future generations learn about his administration.
This is textbook authoritarianism: dismantle independent institutions, silence the press, and take control of history itself.
A Warning We Can’t Ignore
Authoritarian regimes throughout history have understood the power of controlling records and information. From Stalin's rewriting of Soviet history to Nixon’s attempts to cover up Watergate, corrupt leaders have always sought to destroy or manipulate the historical record to maintain their grip on power.
Trump is doing the same—firing watchdogs, intimidating journalists, and seizing control of historical preservation. His removal of Colleen Shogan is not just about a bureaucratic shuffle; it’s about eroding democracy itself.
If we don’t fight back against this assault on truth, we risk losing our ability to hold leaders accountable, our ability to learn from history, and our ability to preserve the facts for future generations. And once those things are gone, so is democracy.
A good article with important points about these grave risks. But while the 1984 statute did seek to make the appointment without regard to political affiliation, it is not true that the position has never been political. Politicization of the Archivist—both by those seeking to control and use the agency, and by Archivists of the US themselves—began decades ago, and has varied over time. Those of us who have fought for many years to reform the agency and the laws relating to it, especially attempting to further insulate it from political pressure, have been met with resistance from both parties, as well as monied interests. This egregious and unwarranted (although legal) firing and the likely nominee dash all hope for any such reform for at least four years, if not longer.
There's lots to be alarmed about - How I wish more people had been alarmed before Election Day - and now, I wish the Democrats would take drastic action - like walking off the House/Senate floor to deny a quorum. Vance is already setting up a showdown with the judiciary - fascism, here we come.