Federal Records: Agencies Face Challenges in Managing E-Mail

Book excerpt: Federal agencies are increasingly using electronic mail (e-mail) for essential communication. In doing so, they are potentially creating messages that have the status of fed. records, which must be managed and preserved in accordance with the Fed. Records Act. To carry out the records mgmt. responsibilities established in the act, agencies are to follow implementing regulations that include specific requirements for e-mail records. This testimony relates to issues regarding the preservation of electronic records, including e-mail. It discusses challenges facing agencies when managing their e-mail records, as well as current policies and practices for managing e-mail messages that qualify as federal records.