The Society of American Archivists (SAA) notes with concern two factors that may compromise the capacity of the U.S. Census Bureau to perform its long-standing and critically important work of documenting the nation’s population: current vacancies in the positions of Bureau Director and Deputy Director/Chief Operating Officer which creates a leadership vacuum, and the Trump Administration’s proposal to make significant cuts in non-defense-related federal funding.

SAA notes with concern the recent news that several current and former senior White House officials, including Senior Advisor to the President Jared Kushner, used private email accounts to conduct official public business. SAA is dismayed that this issue continues to plague public officials regardless of their political affiliation. Laws and regulations regarding public records are clear, as are the responsibilities of individuals entrusted with executing government functions.

September 6, 2017—As Hurricane Irma hurtles toward Florida, it’s important that all individuals and cultural institutions prepare now. 

August 24, 2017—The SAA Council announced on July 24 that we were considering relocating the 2019 Annual Meeting from Austin, Texas, based on pending legislation that would “require people to use restrooms and other facilities that match the gender on their birth certificate.” The legislation was not taken up in a special session of the Texas House and therefore failed on August 16. But there’s more to the story.

August 17, 2017—SAA and the Association of College and Research Libraries/Rare Books and Manuscripts Section have agreed to reconvene a joint task force to revise the SAA-ACRL/RBMS Joint Statement on Access to Research Materials in Archives and Special Collections.

August 15, 2017—The Society of American Archivists joins the nation in condemning the racist acts committed by white supremacists in Charlottesville, Virginia, on the weekend of August 12. SAA is committed to listening to and supporting the work of its members who are addressing ways in which archives can assist in fighting suppression, intimidation, and violence, and who are actively engaged in furthering SAA’s strategic priority of diversity and inclusion.