National Archive
Gone in 7 Minutes
Videos revealing the casual escape of two thieves from the National Archive holding loose pages of the Constitution have shocked the world from how the most important document of the United States could be stolen in broad daylight. Although the pages stored in the Charters of Freedom were safely on display in the Rotunda of the National Archive, the rarely seen 5th page, along with 17 amendments of the constitution were taken from storage after last being seen by the public on October 1st, 2025, as part of a celebration of the United States’ 250th anniversary. The clips shows two individuals in plainclothes, face coverings, and hi-vis vests carrying the fragile pages loosely in their hands before getting into what appears to be a black unmarked SUV with tinted windows that were later discovered to have been rented. During the escape, one of the pages, The 4th Amendment, was shown to have been blown away by the wind, reducing their burden before attempting to set a fire on the side door used.
Investigators estimated the robbery took less than seven minutes, with them only entering the building for less than four minutes. Despite a recent $40 million renovation, it was discovered that the thieves used less than $40 worth of gallium, which infiltrated the perforated aluminum platform behind the pages meant to maintain moisture levels to preserve the documents and caused it to become brittle enough to break apart with their bare hands.
The Archivist of the United States stated, “Despite our best efforts, our security measures were defeated,” in an appearance before Congress, but noted that the document’s storage was meant primarily for preservation, and the documents would have been safe if explosives had been used instead of the metal gallium.
Embarrassing Obsolete Cybersecurity
Under increased scrutiny of security measures, it was found that exterior security cameras did not sufficiently cover the side door used during the break-in, and only 39% of interior rooms had cameras. The lock and alarm system was found to have been compromised by using the electronic readers meant to limit access. To the shock of security auditors, the video surveillance server used NationalArchive as the password, and many of the systems were still running Windows XP despite being discontinued in 2014 due to being an exception to upgrade as a closed legacy system according to federal requirements.
National Archive Security and White House Responds
Bipartisan outrage was shown in questioning and in statements to the media, with lawmakers demanding accountability and a review of all US security systems. The National Archive’s leadership are under heavy pressure to update its security, both for the remaining 4 pages of the US Constitution, along with the declaration of independence. However, although demands for increased security have been a united response, the President’s recent executive order requiring a $100 entrance fee for visitors wishing to view the remaining documents in the Rotunda’s Charters of Freedom has gotten hostile response from opposing parties. Breaking the precedent of free general admission or $1 timed-entry tickets that has lasted for decades, the executive order justifies the high price as a means to improve security by limiting the quantity and quality of visitors and raising funding to modernize the obsolete systems, but critics have argued that the admission fee is “paywalling the Constitution of the United States.”
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