DEIA at NARA

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility at the National Archives and Records Administration

The White House recently released a government-wide Strategic Plan to Advance Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) for the federal workforce. NARA will use this plan to develop an agency-specific DEIA Strategic Plan in spring 2022. This Strategic Plan follows President Biden’s Executive Order (E.O.) 14035: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the Federal Workforce, which directed the establishment of a systematic approach to embed DEIA in agency talent practices, workforce engagements, and organizational structures.

The work of my Task Force on Racism and its recommendations have laid the groundwork for our E.O. 14035 activities, much as they positioned NARA for success on E.O. 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government

NARA will use this framework to advance many of the recommendations of the Task Force, including:

  • Recruiting, hiring, and retaining a diverse workforce by enhancing outreach strategies, reinvigorating internship programs, and by providing developmental opportunities and training that supports equitable career advancement and improves supervisory effectiveness. 
  • Establishing diverse leadership pipelines by standardizing position descriptions, developing a succession planning process, and creating agency-wide roadmaps to ensure equitable compensation, methods to cultivate qualified internal candidates for future vacancies, and career development opportunities.
  • Developing a robust DEIA program that educates the workforce on DEIA concepts, promotes a culture of inclusion and professionalism, and drives a sense of belonging for all current and future employees.

At NARA, people are at the center of everything we do. We are committed to working together as an agency to develop a diverse workforce that is inclusive in its interactions, equitable in its practices, and accessible to all current and future employees.