August 28, 2026 - Washington, D.C. — Rep. Robert Garcia, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, wrote to 40 agencies and the National Archives and Records Administration, reminding them of their legal responsibility to preserve records under the Federal Records Act, including preserving communications on apps like Signal.

“President Trump wants to delete evidence of his countless corrupt acts and hide his wrongdoing from the American people. We are fighting back in court and we will not let him cover his tracks,” said Ranking Member Robert Garcia.

Congress enacted the Federal Records Act (FRA) in 1950 following recommendations of the Hoover Commission to ensure that federal agencies properly create, preserve, and manage records documenting the work and decisions of the federal government. Congress enacted the Presidential Records Act (PRA) and in the direct aftermath of Watergate to make sure the records of the White House are not destroyed and may be accessed by the public.

Today, Rep. Robert Garcia, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Assistant Leader Joe Neguse, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the House Committee on the Judiciary, and Rep. Joe Morelle, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Administration, also led Members of Congress in filing an amicus brief defending the PRA against the Trump Administration’s effort to gut the law by declaring it unconstitutional.

The Oversight Committee has primary jurisdiction over the FRA and PRA.

Source: House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform-Democrats