Open Government at the National Archives

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COVID-19 Updates

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(Image courtesy of the Public Health Image Library, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

The National Archives is committed to the health and safety of our visitors and staff. We are closely monitoring the situation regarding COVID-19, and we are working with public health officials and our counterpart agencies to monitor and respond to the evolving conditions and following CDC guidelines. Follow the National Archives on Facebook (USNationalArchives) and on Twitter (@USNatArchives) for immediate updates.

National Archives staff will continue to serve the public remotely by responding to emailed requests for records and History Hub inquiries. While we are closed, we invite the public to explore our online resources by visiting www.archives.gov and viewing our online exhibits and educational resources and participating in our Citizen Archivist Missions. A biweekly newsletter lists many of these resources and activities.

Facilities Status

As a public health precaution, due to COVID-19, the following changes are in effect:

All National Archives research rooms nationwide, including those at Presidential Libraries, are closed to the public until further notice.
All museums, including the National Archives Building and those at Presidential Libraries, are closed to the public until further notice.
All public events in National Archives facilities nationwide are cancelled until further notice. This includes in-person public programs, tours, school group visits, public meetings, external conferences, and facility rentals. Where possible, we will conduct public events and outreach activities online and through virtual meetings.

Notice to NARA Researchers and FOIA Requesters

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and pursuant to guidance received from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), NARA has adjusted its normal operations to balance the need of completing its mission-critical work while also adhering to the recommended social distancing for the safety of our staff. As a result of this re-prioritization of activities, you may experience a delay in receiving an initial acknowledgment as well as a substantive response to your reference or FOIA request or appeal. We apologize for this inconvenience and appreciate your understanding and patience.

Notice to Veterans

The National Personnel Records Center is servicing only urgent requests related to homeless veterans, medical emergencies, and funerals. If you have an urgent need for access to military service records, please fax your request to 314-801-0764. This is a dedicated line for emergencies only. If your request is not urgent, please consider delaying it until we are past this national emergency. We thank you for your patience and look forward to resuming normal operations.

Agency Memoranda to Employees

The following memoranda have been transmitted to National Archives employees and describe plans and procedures for physically closing, and when possible as local conditions permit, reopening our facilities:

For additional communications to our workforce, including NARA Notices, Fact Sheets, and Social Distancing procedures, see the list in the FOIA area.

Suspension of Reproduction and Digitization Services

The National Archives and Records Administration has suspended reproduction and digitization services until further notice due to COVID-19. Orders will not be serviced until operations can resume safely. We apologize for any inconvenience. Once operations resume, document reproduction requests will be filled in the order in which they were received.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Coronavirus.gov — for the latest official information from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Task Force at the White House

CDC.gov/coronavirus — for official Coronavirus (COVID-19) health information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has established landing pages with the latest information from CDC and the overarching medical community on COVID-19. The pages are currently promoting information on how it spreads, symptoms, prevention and treatment, stigma and COVID-19, what to do if you are sick, and frequently asked questions.