Micah Jonah, February 6, 2026
United States Secretary of State and National Security Adviser, Marco Rubio has stepped down as the acting Archivist of the United States, according to officials of the National Archives and Records Administration.
The National Archivist is responsible for overseeing government records and managing the National Archives, an agency that plays a key role in preserving official documents and historical records of the U.S. government.
Rubio was appointed to the acting role last year after President Donald Trump dismissed former Archivist Colleen Shogan shortly after assuming office. His appointment added to several key responsibilities he has held within the administration, highlighting his central role in the government.
Officials said Rubio stepped down from the position in compliance with the Federal Vacancies Reform Act, which limits how long an official can serve in a Senate confirmed role on an acting basis. Authority at the National Archives has now been delegated to senior adviser James Byron.
The National Archives has remained a politically sensitive institution in recent years, particularly following its involvement in notifying the Justice Department about the handling of classified government documents linked to former presidential records.
Rubio has remained a prominent figure in the administration, playing major roles in foreign policy decisions and national security strategies. His exit from the archives position is seen as a legal compliance move rather than a shift in his broader responsibilities within the government.
