US Archivist Colleen Shogan was fired by President Donald Trump, who also revealed plans to reorganize the Kennedy Center’s board of trustees, including appointing himself as the new chairman, in a major upheaval of Washington institutions.
Trump and the Transformation of the National Archives’ Leadership
Trump and the National Archives are at odds over Shogan’s termination, which White House Personnel Director Sergio Gor announced on social media. Shogan, who started her job after the first classified documents and investigation started, said on LinkedIn that she was fired without reason and that she had “zero regrets” about her service.
Background on the Documents Investigation and Trump
The move follows a complex history between Trump and the National Archives:
- In early 2022, the FBI raided Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort after first warning the Justice Department about his handling of confidential data.
- Trump was eventually charged with keeping classified materials, but after winning the 2024 election, Special Counsel Jack Smith dismissed the prosecution.
The Kennedy Centre Restructuring Under Trump
Trump’s attention to the Kennedy Center marks another significant institutional change. The president announced plans to:
- Take out several board members, including David Rubenstein, the current chairman.
- Make himself the new chairman.
- Add those who share his “Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture” to the board.
In response to these events, the Kennedy Centre stated that although some members had received notices of termination, they had not been formally notified of any changes to the board. Although board members can be replaced by administrations, the organization stressed that this would be a first for the Centre.
The Broader Background of Trump’s government transformation
These changes align with Trump’s larger government reorganization efforts since taking office last month. His administration has already:
- Dismissed hundreds of civil servants
- Sidelined numerous top agency officials
- Begun implementing plans to downsize federal bureaucracy
- Increased placement of loyalists in key positions
Bipartisan support has always been a feature of the Kennedy Centre, which is home to the National Symphony Orchestra and Washington National Opera and organizes more than 2000 events a year. Trump and the organization have had a tense relationship; during his first term, he declined to attend the Kennedy Centre Honors.
The political dynamics surrounding these institutional reforms are further complicated by this most recent action, which comes after Biden awarded Rubenstein the Presidential Medal of Freedom in one of his last actions as president.