White House Overhauls Electronic Records Requirements

Federal agencies have until the end of 2019 to adopt systems that store and manage all electronic records in formats that will keep them safe and searchable for future generations, according to a White House directive released Friday.

Currently, many agencies print paper copies of the documents and other records they are legally required to maintain due to concerns that existing file formats won’t be viable 30 years down the road when they must turn the records over to the National Archives and Records Administration.

Agencies have until the end of 2016 to store all email in electronic formats and until Nov. 15, 2012, to appoint a senior official responsible for beefing up their electronic records management programs, Friday’s memo from Office of Management and Budget acting Director Jeff Zients said. Those officials must undergo National Archives training themselves and in turn must develop training programs for agency employees, the memo states...