---
kind: "section"
citation: "44 U.S.C. § 2912"
title: "44"
title_heading: "Public Printing and Documents"
number: "2912"
heading: "Preservation of electronic messages and other records"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/44/2912"
units:
  - "Chapter 29 — Records Management by the Archivist of the United States and by the Administrator of General Services"
---

# §2912. Preservation of electronic messages and other records

- (a) **Regulations Required.—** The [Archivist](/usc/44/2901.md?p=12) shall promulgate regulations governing [Federal agency](/usc/44/2901.md?p=14) preservation of [electronic messages](/usc/44/2901.md?p=15) that are determined to be [records](/usc/44/2901.md?p=1). Such regulations shall, at a minimum—
  - (1) require the electronic capture, management, and preservation of such electronic [records](/usc/44/2901.md?p=1) in accordance with the [records disposition](/usc/44/2901.md?p=5) requirements of [chapter 33](/usc/44/chch33.md);
  - (2) require that such electronic [records](/usc/44/2901.md?p=1) are readily accessible for retrieval through electronic searches; and
  - (3) include timelines for [Federal agency](/usc/44/2901.md?p=14) implementation of the regulations that ensure compliance as expeditiously as practicable.
- (b) **Coverage of Other Electronic Records.—** To the extent practicable, the regulations promulgated under [subsection (a)](#a) shall also include requirements for the capture, management, and preservation of other electronic [records](/usc/44/2901.md?p=1).
- (c) **Review of Regulations Required.—** The [Archivist](/usc/44/2901.md?p=12) shall periodically review and, as necessary, amend the regulations promulgated under [subsection (a)](#a).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 116–283, div. H, title XCVI, § 9602(b)(1), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4828.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Deadline for Regulations

Pub. L. 116–283, div. H, title XCVI, § 9602(b)(2), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4828, provided that: “Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act [Jan. 1, 2021], the Archivist shall propose the regulations required under section 2912(a) of title 44, United States Code, as added by paragraph (1).”