The United States National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) spokesperson announced on Thursday (February 5) that U.S. Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio is no longer serving as Acting Archivist of the National Archives and Records Administration.
The Archivist of the United States oversees government records and leads the National Archives. NARA had previously notified the Department of Justice in 2022 about then-President Trump’s handling of classified documents after his first term, which had led to criticism from Trump.
Upon his return to the White House last year, Trump promptly dismissed the then Archivist of the National Archives and Records Administration, Colleen Shogan, and appointed Rubio as the Acting Archivist, adding to the numerous roles Rubio had within the government.
Rubio, holding several positions, showcased Trump’s trust in him.
Recently, following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by the U.S. military, Rubio has emerged as a key figure in Trump’s push for American oversight in Venezuela.
The National Archives and Records Administration’s General Counsel Matt Dummermuth stated in an email to Reuters that Rubio resigned from his position within the National Archives and Records Administration in accordance with the 1998 Federal Vacancies Reform Act, which limits the duration officials can serve in an acting capacity in positions requiring U.S. Senate confirmation.
Dummermuth revealed that Rubio has transferred his powers within the agency to James Byron, a senior advisor to the Archivist of the National Archives and Records Administration.
In 2022, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conducted a raid on Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, as part of investigations into the handling of official presidential documents after the end of his first term. Subsequently, Trump faced prosecution on document handling issues, but the case was dropped by the Department of Justice after his victory in the 2024 election.
(This article is based on Reuters reporting)