The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) fired a security officer who ordered students to remove attire displaying pro-life messages, according to a letter from the lead archivist at the agency.
The security officer was employed by a private vendor on a contract with the archives and was removed from NARA facilities following an investigation, Acting Archivist Debra Steidel Wall wrote in a Wednesday letter to Republican Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. (RELATED: Pro-Life Students Receive Personal Tour In Deal After Being Kicked Out Of National Archives)
SCOOP: The National Archives has informed Senator @tedcruz that it has fired the security officer responsible for telling students that they could not wear pro-life apparel in the museum. https://t.co/RyzpWF3Fsa
— Mary Margaret Olohan (@MaryMargOlohan) February 23, 2023
The Daily Signal first obtained Wall’s letter. Cruz and Rep. Chip Roy pressured NARA to provide more specifics about the situation in a separate letter Feb. 16.
“This action was contrary to NARA policy,” Wall wrote. “The irony that this happened just steps away from the permanent display of the original Bill of Rights is not lost on me or any of the employees who proudly welcome more than one million annual visitors to the Museum.”
Security officers at the National Archives demanded students remove apparel with pro-life messages Jan. 20, in violation of a NARA policy allowing visitors to wear clothes with political and religious viewpoints. The incident occurred on the same day as the national March for Life in Washington, D.C.
The National Archives apologized for the incident Feb. 10 in response to a lawsuit by the American Center for Law and Justice. “As the home to the original Constitution and Bill of Rights, which enshrine the rights of free speech and religion, we sincerely apologize for this occurrence,” NARA said.
The National Archives referred the Daily Caller to Wall’s letter in response to a request for comment.