A records freeze typically includes the temporary suspension or extension of the lifecycle of records due to special circumstances such as ongoing litigation, investigations, and audits. During a freeze, records cannot be destroyed or disposed of according to normal schedules, and this suspension protects records that may have legal, administrative, or fiscal value. The freeze ensures these records are preserved regardless of their physical location, including those stored in Federal Records Centers. Key inclusions in a records freeze are:

• Ongoing litigation
• Investigations and audits
• Records schedule updates when retention periods are extended

Such a freeze is different from a litigation hold, as it may apply to records not in the direct custody of an agency but held elsewhere, such as in a records center. The freeze halts premature disposition until the freeze is lifted by authorized notification.