Tribal Leaders Fight Trump Administration Plan to Close National Archives in Chicago

The Trump administration's decision to close three National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) facilities is drawing sharp opposition from tribal officials, historians and archivists who warn that irreplaceable Native American records could be lost or damaged.

The planned closure of the National Archives at Chicago has become a flashpoint for tribal sovereignty concerns, particularly because the facility holds thousands of feet of Bureau of Indian Affairs records documenting the federal government's dealings with sovereign tribal nations across the Upper Midwest, including Iowa.

What records are stored at the Chicago National Archives?

The Chicago facility houses Bureau of Indian Affairs records spanning 2,296 linear feet. These documents came from two dozen BIA agencies, subagencies and Indian boarding schools that operated across Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa.

The records include day-to-day agency operations, correspondence, narrative and statistical reports, financial records including annuity payments and disbursements, land allotment records, education records from boarding schools, and files related to social and economic programs. Most of these documents have not been digitized and are only available for in-person research.

For Iowa residents, these records hold particular significance. They document the federal government's relationship with tribal nations whose lands and histories intersect with Iowa's own story, including the Sac and Fox, Omaha, and other tribes with deep ties to the region.

Why are tribal leaders opposing the closure?

Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Councilor Rapheal Wahwassuck raised the issue during the Potawatomi Gathering in late July, voicing concern about the preservation of tribal documents currently housed at the facility. He asked tribal leaders to request that the National Congress of American Indians adopt a resolution opposing the closure.

The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation is the only federally recognized tribe with trust land in Illinois, located less than 75 miles from the Chicago National Archives.

Tribal concerns include potential damage to historic documents during transportation to other NARA facilities, as well as the loss of proximity to records used by individuals and students for research purposes.

A larger concern is the administration's failure to conduct tribal consultation before making the decision. Tribal leaders argue this is another example of the federal government disregarding tribal sovereignty and the integrity of the government-to-government consultation process.

What did the administration say about the closures?

The June 23, 2026 email announcing the changes came from NARA Chief Operating Officer Jay Trainer. He said the decision would support the agency's long-term financial health and reduce expenses and its real estate portfolio in alignment with the administration's priorities.

While the internal email did not come from the now-shuttered Department of Government Efficiency, the effort to shrink the federal government's real estate holdings bears the hallmarks of the DOGE approach to cutting costs across agencies.

Other facilities impacted by the announcement include NARA's San Francisco facility and the Seattle Records Center, where temporary records would be transferred elsewhere.

Is there legal precedent to stop the closures?

Yes. In 2020, the Public Buildings Reform Board recommended selling the Seattle NARA building and relocating its records to Kansas City, Missouri, and Riverside, California.

In January 2021, then-Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed a lawsuit against the federal government. Twenty-nine federally recognized tribes, Alaska Native tribal entities and tribal communities from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska joined the lawsuit, along with the state of Oregon and several historical preservation organizations and museums.

A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction blocking the sale of the Seattle facility, finding that the coalition was likely to prevail on its claims that the federal government had acted unlawfully.

The effort ended in April 2021 when the Biden administration withdrew the Office of Management and Budget's approval of the sale, effectively halting the relocation and leading to the lawsuit being dismissed without prejudice.

What should tribes and Congress do now?

Tribal leaders should consider legal action against the Trump administration to stop the closures of NARA facilities that impact Native American records, including tribal documents and Indian boarding school records.

Tribes should also ask Congress to intervene. Lawmakers should hold hearings to investigate who authorized the changes, what will happen to the records, and why tribes were not given the opportunity to engage in meaningful government-to-government consultation.

The records housed at NARA facilities document the federal government's long and often contentious legal relationship with sovereign tribal nations. They belong within the reach of Native nations and people whose histories, lands, assets and relatives they document.

As the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation puts it: Thayék gde nwéndëmen, which means We are all related.

Tribes must have access to their own history. The question now is whether the Trump administration will respect that fundamental principle or force another legal battle over the fate of these irreplaceable documents.

Frequently asked questions about the National Archives closures

When will the Chicago National Archives close?

The Trump administration announced the planned closure on June 23, 2026. No specific closure date has been publicly confirmed, and tribal opposition may delay or halt the process.

How can Iowa residents access these records?

Currently, researchers can access the records in person at the Chicago facility. Most documents have not been digitized, so in-person visits are the only way to view them. If the facility closes, records would be relocated to other NARA sites.

What records are most at risk?

Bureau of Indian Affairs records from agencies and boarding schools across Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa are the primary concern. These include land allotment records, probate files, school enrollment records, and financial documents critical to tribal members researching their family histories.