President Donald Trump is continuing his full-scale restructuring of the federal government, this time making major changes at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and the Social Security Administration (SSA). These moves, along with the growing influence of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) led by Elon Musk, have sparked controversy among former bureaucrats and left-leaning watchdog groups.
Trump announced Sunday that Jim Byron, president and CEO of the Richard Nixon Foundation, will take on a senior archivist role at NARA, serving as a de facto leader while the administration searches for a full-time replacement.
“Jim has worked with the National Archives for many years and understands the great responsibility and duty we have to preserve the History of our Great Country,” Trump posted on Truth Social, noting that Byron will report to Acting Archivist Marco Rubio—who is simultaneously serving as Secretary of State.
This appointment follows Trump’s dismissal of Colleen Shogan, the first woman to lead NARA, and a wave of resignations from top NARA officials, including Acting Archivist William Bosanko and Inspector General Brett Baker. These shake-ups come amid Trump’s broader effort to overhaul federal agencies that he believes have been weaponized against him.
It’s no secret that Trump has a contentious history with the National Archives. The agency was instrumental in triggering the FBI raid on Mar-a-Lago in 2022 by flagging his possession of classified documents, a move that led to one of the most politically charged legal battles in modern history. Now, with Byron in charge of day-to-day operations, expect a much different approach to presidential records and executive authority.
Meanwhile, over at the Social Security Administration, another high-profile departure has rocked the agency. Acting Commissioner Michelle King resigned over the weekend after reportedly refusing to grant DOGE staffers access to sensitive Social Security recipient information.
Her exit marks yet another instance of bureaucratic resistance clashing with the Trump administration’s push to streamline government operations. White House spokesman Harrison Fields wasted no time in setting the record straight, stating that Trump’s nominee to permanently lead the SSA, Frank Bisignano, is “highly qualified and talented” and expected to be confirmed soon.
In the interim, Leland Dudek, a longtime Social Security fraud investigator, will serve as acting commissioner. According to Fields, the president is committed to staffing agencies with individuals “dedicated to working on behalf of the American people, not to appease the bureaucracy that has failed them for far too long.”
However, left-wing advocacy groups are already crying foul, with Nancy Altman of Social Security Works warning that DOGE’s involvement could be a “serious breach” of sensitive government data. She speculated—without evidence—that “if there is an evil intent to punish perceived enemies, someone could erase your earnings record, making it impossible to collect the Social Security and Medicare benefits you have earned.”
These warnings, of course, ignore the fact that DOGE’s stated purpose is to cut waste, improve efficiency, and hold federal agencies accountable—an initiative that enjoys strong public support.
Trump’s government overhaul has already led to major shake-ups across multiple agencies. DOGE has secured access to Treasury payment systems and is working to integrate IRS databases into its broader efficiency efforts. Predictably, the entrenched Washington bureaucracy is pushing back, with multiple officials resigning rather than adapt to a more streamlined approach.
The reality? The same people who claim to be protecting “democracy” are now up in arms because a duly elected president is implementing the reforms he campaigned on. Trump’s 2024 victory was built on a promise to dismantle bloated government institutions, and now that it’s happening, career bureaucrats are scrambling.
