NCH Sends Letter to OMB Opposing Closure of NARA’s Seattle Records Facility

The National Coalition for History (NCH) today sent a letter to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) opposing the sale of the National Archives and Records Administration’s (NARA) records facility in Seattle, Washington. NCH urged OMB to reopen the review process since no opportunity was provided for public comment before the decision to sell the property was made.

OMB recently ratified a recommendation to sell the Seattle property that was made by the Public Buildings Reform Board, a federal advisory committee tasked by Congress to identify “high value” federal properties to be put up for sale.

NCH joins the American Historical Association, Council of State Archivists, Organization of American Historians and Society of American Archivists in opposing the sale. The sale is also being opposed by the congressional delegations of the States of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.

The National Archives has issued a statement concerning the future plans for the facility during the transition period.