ACF Archive Schedule
ACF follows the HHS archive schedule for content lifecycle management. Please follow the standard schedule, unless your program office has an approved justification to opt out.
Please note:
- This schedule does not replace program-specific records retention schedule on file with NARA (managed offline) that determines when official records should be archived.
- Only Site Administrators can delete content/media files. Please submit deletion requests to digitalcomms@acf.hhs.gov including pertinent details ex. Page or file name, URL(s), cause for deletion, and date of desired deletion.
| Type of Content | Timeline to Remove from Site* |
|---|---|
| Administration specific | Change of Administration |
| Agendas | Do not archive; delete after six months |
| Announcements | Do not archive; delete after six months |
| Blogs | Standard Schedule* or when retired |
| Brochures | Do not archive; delete after six months |
| Budget, financial, and performance documents | Standard Schedule* |
| Carousel slides | Do not archive; update, if needed or delete after three months |
| Content, Program | When superseded |
| Funding & announcements | When next cycle occurs |
| Grant Applications | When next cycle occurs |
| News items/highlights (website) | Do not archive; update, if needed; otherwise delete after three months |
| Newsletters | Standard Schedule* |
| News releases | Standard Schedule* |
| Meeting Announcements | Do not archive; delete after six months |
| Mini-sites | When retired |
| Policies & Guidance | When superseded |
| Plans | When superseded |
| Presentations | Do not archive; delete after six months |
| Quick Facts | Do not archive; update, if needed or delete after three months |
| Regulations | When superseded |
| Reports to Congress | Standard Schedule* |
| Reports, Research, Studies | Standard Schedule* |
| Resigning Officials (political) | Upon retirement (blogs, speeches, videos) |
| Speeches | Change of Administration Or Standard Schedule (whichever is earlier)* |
| Success Stories | Do not archive; update, if needed or delete after three months |
| Testimony | Change of Administration Or Standard Schedule (whichever is earlier)* |
| Training | When retired |
| Training Announcements | Do not archive; delete after six months |
| Websites | When retired |
* The standard retention schedule for dated reference materials is to archive annually, retaining two full years on the live site, if needed. For example, 2021 news releases should be archived in January 2023 keeping at least two full years and no more than three years of content available, unless there's a change in administration.
This standard retention schedule can be extended after demonstration by the content owner that older content is regularly and routinely accessed by the public. Note that while the content-lifecycle management guidance requires us to review content annually, content can be re-evaluated, as needed.