Results of the Partial Federal Government Shutdown Survey on Archives and Records Management Operations

2/22/2019 1:00 PM

(Washington, D.C.) – On February 12, 2019, the National Association of Government Archives and Records Administrators (NAGARA) distributed a survey to federal government records managers to learn about the effect of the partial government shutdown on federal records management programs. Responses indicated both the maturity and success of federal records programs but also some causes for concern.

On the positive side, a significant majority of respondents reported records laws, regulations and policies were observed as usual during the shutdown, including the proper creation of records within recordkeeping systems and the regular maintenance of electronic records. This finding indicates the sustained efforts of federal government records professionals in the creation, use, storage and maintenance of electronic government records in particular.
  
Of greater concern to NAGARA is the fact that most government records managers were not working and able to maintain records documenting essential service. The President signed the Open Government Data Act on January 14, eleven days before the end of the latest shutdown. The transparency that this legislation sought cannot be accomplished when over 80% of respondents to the NAGARA survey indicated that the shutdown negatively impacted access to their agencies’ records.

Full survey results are attached below.

NAGARA Board of Directors

###Survey Response Data
(Adobe PDF File)