The Bureau Indian Affairs (BIA) is seeking Tribal input on proposed revisions to the Record Group 75 schedule, which governs records maintained by the BIA, Bureau of Indian Education, and Bureau of Trust Funds Administration. BIA states the revisions would update the schedule, preserve records with lasting historical, cultural, or legal value, and set clearer retention periods for other records.
The last systematic scheduling effort occurred around 20 years ago. Since then, many records without a final disposition have been treated as permanent. The proposal would instead place Record Group 75 materials into seven categories with either a set retention period or permanent status.
Historically and culturally significant trust, land, Tribal government, treaty, enrollment, and related records would remain permanent. General program records would be retained 15 to 25 years after cutoff; certain contract, grant, and financial-monitoring records, 12 years. Specified trust-accounting records, ICWA and adoption files, and certain law-enforcement, audit, and investigative records would be retained for at least 50 years, with some subject to further review and approval before destruction.
BIA is asking Tribes whether these periods are sufficient and whether particular records should be kept longer or permanently because of their historical, cultural, or legal significance. Tribes may wish to review how the proposed schedule would affect records concerning trust assets, Tribal citizenship and enrollment, ICWA and adoption matters, education, law enforcement, land and natural resources, and other matters for which records may remain important well beyond the proposed retention period.
Virtual Tribal Consultation Sessions:
- October 26, 2026, 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. ET
- October 27, 2026, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. CT
- October 28, 2026, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. MT
- October 29, 2026, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. PT
Registration and consultation materials are available through the BIA’s Tribal consultation webpage. Written comments are due November 30, 2026.
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Inquiries may be directed to:
Autumn Parrott (aparrott@hobbsstraus.com)
