---
type: "LegalText"
title: "44 U.S.C. § 2909"
description: "Retention of records"
jurisdiction: "us"
corpus: "united_states_code"
kind: "code_section"
title_number: 44
title_name: "PUBLIC PRINTING AND DOCUMENTS"
chapter_number: "29"
chapter_name: "RECORDS MANAGEMENT BY THE ARCHIVIST OF THE UNITED STATES AND BY THE ADMINISTRATOR OF GENERAL SERVICES"
section: "2909"
citation: "44 U.S.C. § 2909"
status: "current"
release_point: "119-100"
release_date: "2026-06-26"
source: "official"
source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc44@119-100.zip"
source_identifier: "/us/usc/t44/s2909"
source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-44/usc44.xml"
source_hash: "6d19a0c4d89afc3f1e098dcc88b283e6fdaf060c1b1dee54e2acb1326a572f48"
raw_snapshot_hash: "2d7109056b4815718203e8d99c9ee6fe3ab744f578883b59654fe3adb211b4a0"
text_hash: "a43006dcd68f2b1e35a6e1936edf15940ffd7299584c8d84202d385560ff062c"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
confidence: "official"
tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
---

# 44 U.S.C. § 2909 - Retention of records

## Text

The Archivist may empower a Federal agency to retain records for a longer period than that specified in disposal schedules, and may withdraw disposal authorizations covering records listed in disposal schedules. The Archivist shall promulgate regulations in accordance with section 2104(a) of this title to implement this section.

(Pub. L. 90–620, Oct. 22, 1968, 82 Stat. 1297; Pub. L. 91–287, § 4, June 23, 1970, 84 Stat. 322; Pub. L. 98–497, title I, § 107(b)(15)(B), Oct. 19, 1984, 98 Stat. 2288; Pub. L. 108–383, § 2(a), Oct. 30, 2004, 118 Stat. 2218.)

## Notes

Historical and Revision NotesBased on 44 U.S. Code, 1964 ed., § 395(f) (June 30, 1949, ch. 288, title V, § 505(f), as added Sept. 5, 1950, ch. 849, § 6(d), 64 Stat. 583).

Editorial Notes

Amendments2004—Pub. L. 108–383 struck out “, upon the submission of evidence of need,” after “Federal agency”, substituted “, and” for “; and, in accordance with regulations promulgated by him,”, and inserted at end “The Archivist shall promulgate regulations in accordance with section 2104(a) of this title to implement this section.” 1984—Pub. L. 98–497 substituted “Archivist” for “Administrator of General Services”. 1970—Pub. L. 91–287 struck out “approved by Congress” after “disposal schedules” in two places.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1984 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 98–497 effective Apr. 1, 1985, see section 301 of Pub. L. 98–497, set out as a note under section 2102 of this title.