Letter to the Hon. James Springs, National Archives and Records Administration Inspector General - Senator Duckworth Requests Inspector General Investigate the National Archives and Records Administration's Alteration of a Photo Criticizing Donald Trump

Letter

Dear Inspector General Springs:
I am writing to request that the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Office
of lnspector General (OIG) launch a comprehensive independent investigation into NARA's
disturbing decision to alter a photographic Getty image NARA featured in the agency's public
exhibition, "Rightfully Hers: American Women and the Vote."
Conducting an independent investigation will advance the NARA OIG mission to prevent waste,
fraud, abuse and mismanagement, while bringing particularly serious problems, abuses or
deficiencies to the immediate attention of Congress. A NARA OIG investigation is necessary to
inform the public and Congress about precisely why this alteration was made and to determine
whether the censorship was an isolated incident or part of a broader pattern by NARA under the
Trump administration to alter records for politically-motivated or propaganda purposes. The
NARA OIG investigation should also produce recommendations that include corrective actions
to guard against future editorial abuse by NARA.
NARA publicly acknowledged that its manipulation of the photograph to censor material critical
of the President of the United States was wrong. NARA deserves credit for promptly apologizing
for its error and committing to preventing future mistakes. However, given the significance of
NARA' s violation of professional standards and the high risk oflosing public trust, it is vital that
an independent investigative entity - NARA OIG - conduct a thorough investigation into this act
of censorship. Thank you in advance for your consideration of my urgent request.

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