SHAFR letter to President Trump regarding the removal of the Archivist of the United States

The text of the letter is reproduced below:

The Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations

President Donald J. Trump
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20500

February 10, 2025

Dear President Trump:

You have directed the removal of Dr. Colleen Shogan from her position as the Archivist of the United States. Dr. Shogan has served in this nonpartisan role since her appointment was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 10, 2023. U.S. Federal law (44 U.S.C. Chapter 21 § 2103) explicitly stipulates that “The Archivist shall be appointed without regard to political affiliations and solely on the basis of the professional qualifications required to perform the duties and responsibilities of the office of Archivist.”

This same federal law further stipulates that “The President shall communicate the reasons for any such removal to each House of the Congress.” The Administration has not yet complied with this law’s requirement by communicating the specific reasons for Dr. Shogan’s dismissal. The Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations insists that the President comply with this requirement and awaits the White House’s formally informing Congress of the reasons for Dr. Shogan’s dismissal.

The requirement that the President communicate the reasons for removing Dr. Shogan from her position as the Archivist of the United States is unambiguous, and U.S. democracy rests on fealty to the rule of law. Moreover, the history of the United States rests on unfettered access to the archival record, for which the Archivist of the United States is responsible and accountable. The Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations can identify not a single instance in which Dr. Shogan did not pursue her mission professionally and in a bipartisan manner. Consequently, our organization looks forward to the White House’s response to this letter.

Sincerely,

Melani McAlister
SHAFR President

cc: Chief of Staff Susie Wiles
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt