AC 36.2024

Date: August 01, 2024

Memorandum to Federal Records Management Contacts: Updates to regulations about GAO review of records schedules

On July 30, changes to 36 C.F.R. 1225.20 went into effect. These changes limit the role of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) in approving certain deviations in agency records schedules. This change will make it easier for agencies to get records schedules approved.

With the previous regulation, GAO approval was required for any records schedule which proposed disposing of agency program records less than three years old. In this updated regulation, GAO approval is only needed in one specific instance: When agencies propose retention schedules for accountable officer records that are shorter than the retention periods provided in the General Records Schedule (GRS). 1.1, item 010 for Accountable Officer records.

If you have any questions about the updated regulation, please contact the GRS_Team@nara.gov.

WILLIAM FISCHER
Chief Records Officer 
for the U.S. Government (Acting)