Transition Post 2: Entrance and Exit Checklists when Entering and Leaving Federal Service

In this post in our series about Presidential transitions and federal records, we'd like to highlight specific resources created for federal employees entering and exiting Federal Service. It is especially important for incoming and departing political appointees and senior officials to be aware of their records management responsibilities at this time.

The Office of the Chief Records Officer provides Model Entrance and Exit Checklists for Records Management.

Some important points to know:

• Keep personal business out of agency-administered systems and accounts - try not to use your official phone or email account for personal business.
• Keep agency business out of personal systems and accounts - try not to use your personal phone and email account for official business.
• Be aware that there is no expectation of privacy in agency systems or accounts.
• Be aware that federal emails and e-messages are government property.

Our Records Management Guidance for Political Appointees and Senior Officials site includes a resource that may be useful for those entering and exiting federal service: Model Records and Information Management Entrance and Exit Checklists.

NARA developed the model checklists for agency records management staff to adapt for their agency's needs as part of entrance and exit briefings or training. These checklists describe basic records management responsibilities and tasks all individuals should complete when entering or leaving federal service.

If you have questions about records management when entering or leaving your agency, you have people that can help you.

Senior Agency Officials for Records Management (SAORMs) have an important role to play in transitions. They are responsible for acting on behalf of their agency head to ensure efficient and appropriate compliance with all applicable records management statutes, regulations, NARA policy, and OMB policy. During transitions, SAORMs can help ensure political appointees and senior staff receive entrance and exit briefings.

It's also important to work with your Agency Records Officers (AROs) during a time of transition. They are responsible for agency records management operations and implementation. AROs can advise on entrance and exit tasks as they relate to records management, and compliance with federal records management policies in general.

If you have questions about the guidance NARA gives about federal records and transitions, please contact [email protected].