Coalition of Federal Ombuds Offers Advice to National Archives on Disposition of NSA Ombuds Materials

In April, the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration sought comment on the records disposition from a variety of Federal agencies, including the National Security Administration Ombudsman. Approval of a records disposition plan by NARA essentially guides the destruction and preservation of materials and the approved schedule is published in the Federal Register. This week COFO submitted a public comment supporting NARA's proposal to allow the routine destruction of Ombuds case "immediately after a case is closed."

The letter was written by Scott Deyo, the current COFO Chair.  He asserts:

This records schedule fully comports with the broad and mandatory confidentiality protections afforded by the Administrative Dispute Resolution Act of 1996, related Department of Justice guidance on confidentiality, and prominent federal and international ombudsman references (see attached).

(NARA Notice and Request for Comments; COFO Letter to NARA.)

Adoption of this proposed rule would be relevant for other public sector Ombuds seeking to establish document destruction protocols. 

Related posts: CoFO Continues Work on Thorny Issues Facing Government Ombuds; COFO Collaborating With Federal Agencies Creating New Ombuds Programs; Coalition of Federal Ombudsmen Sets Tenth Annual Conference; Coalition of Federal Ombuds Announces 2012 Conference; Coalition of Federal Ombudsmen Posts 2013 Meeting Minutes;  Coalition of Federal Ombudsman Elects Officers for 2014; Coalition of Federal Ombuds Eyes Strategic Initiatives; Coalition of Federal Ombuds Announces 2014 Conference; Coalition of Federal Ombuds Posts Minutes from October 2014 Meeting; Federal Ombuds 2015 Conference Agenda Announced.