Introduction

 

The Federal Freedom of Information Act

How FOIA works

Filing a request

Which agencies are covered?

Asking for records

Do you actually have to file a request?

Who may use FOIA?

Try the informal approach first

Making a formal request

Paying fees

Fee waivers

Response times

Expedited processing and fast-tracking your request

Personally inspecting records

Appealing an initial denial

How to file a FOIA lawsuit

 

Exemptions to disclosure under FOIA

1. National security

2. Internal agency rules

3. Statutory exemption

4. Trade secrets

5. Internal agency memos

6. Personal privacy

7. Law enforcement records

8. Bank reports

9. Oil and gas well data

 

Major U.S. Supreme Court FOIA cases

 

Sidebars:

Frequently asked questions

Mandatory declassification review

A tale of two releases

Commonly requested records

 

Federal Open Meetings Laws

 

The Federal Advisory Committee Act

How FACA works

Where FACA applies

How to enforce FACA

 

The Government in the Sunshine Act

How the Sunshine Act works

What is an “Agency”?

What is a “Meeting”?

How to enforce the Sunshine Act

Exemptions to open meetings under the Sunshine Act

 

The Privacy Act

How the Privacy Act works

How Privacy Act lawsuits affect journalists

 

 

Sample materials

FOIA Request Letter

FOIA Appeal Letter

FOIA Complaint

Vaughn Motion

Request letter for your own files under FOIA and the Privacy Act

Agency addresses

 

Statutes

Freedom of Information Act

Privacy Act

Government in the Sunshine Act

Federal Advisory Committee Act

List of agencies

AGRICULTURE

  — Food Safety and Inspection Service

  — Forest Service

  — Office of the Inspector General

ARMS CONTROL & DISARMAMENT AGENCY

BROACASTING BOARD OF GOVERNORS

CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY

CHEMICAL SAFETY AND HAZARD INVESTIGATION BOARD

COMMERCE

COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS

COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION

CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION

CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE

COURT SERVICES AND OFFENDER SUPERVISION AGENCY FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

DEFENSE

  — Air Force

  — Army

  — Defense Contract Audit Agency

  — Defense Contract Management Agency

  — Defense Education Activity

  — Defense Finance and Accounting Service

  — Defense Information Systems Agency

  — Defense Intelligence Agency

  — Defense Logistics Agency

  — Defense Security Service

  — Defense Threat Reduction Agency

  — Marine Corps

  — National Reconnaissance Office

  — National Security Agency

  — Navy

  — Navy - Office of the Inspector General

DEFENSE NUCLEAR FACILITIES BOARD

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

EDUCATION

EMERGENCY LOAN GUARANTEE BOARD

ENERGY

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA)

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

  — Council on Environmental Quality

  — Office of Administration

  — Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

  — Office of National Drug Control Policy

  — Office of Science and Technology Policy

  — Office of the United States Trade Representative

EXPORT IMPORT BANK OF THE UNITED STATES

FARM CREDIT ADMINISTRATION

FARM CREDIT INSURANCE CORPORATION

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION

FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION

FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION

FEDERAL HOUSING FINANCE BOARD

FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY

FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION

FEDERAL MEDIATION AND CONCILIATION SERVICE

FEDERAL MINE SAFETY AND REVIEW COMMISSION

FEDERAL RESERVE

FEDERAL RETIREMENT THRIFT INVESTMENT BOARD

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

  — Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

  — Food and Drug Administration

  — National Institutes of Health

  — Public Health Service

HOMELAND SECURITY

  — Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services

  — Bureau of Customs and Border Protection

  — Federal Emergency Management Agency

  — Federal Law Enforcement Training Center

  — Transportation Security Administration

  — Transportation Security Administration

  — United States Coast Guard

  — United States Secret Service

HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

INSTITUTE OF MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES

INTER-AMERICAN FOUNDATION

INTERIOR

  — Bureau of Indian Affairs

  — Bureau of Land Management

  — Bureau of Reclamation

  — Fish & Wildlife Service

  — Geological Survey

  — National Park Service

  — Natural Resources Conservation Service

JUSTICE

  — Antitrust Division

  — Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

  — Civil Division

  — Civil Rights Division

  — Community Relations Service

  — Criminal Division

  — Drug Enforcement Administration

  — Environment and Natural Resources Division

  — Executive Office for Immigration Review

  — Executive Office of United States Attorneys

  — Executive Office of United States Trustees

  — Federal Bureau of Investigation

  — Federal Bureau of Prisons

  — Foreign Claims Settlement Commission

  — INTERPOL-United States National Central Bureau

  — Justice Management Division

  — National Drug Intelligence Center

  — Office of Community Oriented Policing Services

  — Office of Dispute Resolution

  — Office of Information and Privacy

  — Office of Intelligence Policy and Review

  — Office of Intergovernmental and Public Liaison

  — Office of Justice Programs

  — Office of Legal Policy

  — Office of Legislative Affairs

  — Office of Professional Responsibility

  — Office of Public Affairs

  — Office of the Attorney General; Office of the Deputy Attorney General; or Office of the Associate Attorney General

  — Office of the Federal Detention Trustee

  — Office of the Federal Detention Trustee

  — Office of the Inspector General

  — Office of the Pardon Attorney

  — Office of the Solicitor General

  — Office on Violence Against Women

  — Professional Responsibility Advisory Office

  — Tax Division

  — United States Marshals Service

  — United States Parole Commission

LABOR

LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS COPYRIGHT OFFICE

MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION BOARD

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION (NASA)

NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS

NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES

NATIONAL INDIAN GAMING COMMISSION

NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD

NATIONAL MEDIATION BOARD

NATIONAL RAILROAD PASSENGER CORPORATION (AMTRAK)

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW COMMISSION

OFFICE OF FEDERAL HOUSING ENTERPRISE OVERSIGHT

OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT ETHICS

OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT

OFFICE OF SPECIAL COUNSEL

OVERSEAS PRIVATE INVESTMENT CORPORATION

PEACE CORPS

PENSION BENEFIT GUARANTY CORPORATION

POSTAL RATE COMMISSION

RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM

SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

STATE

SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD

TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY

TRANSPORTATION

  — Federal Aviation Administration

  — Federal Highway Administration

  — Federal Railroad Administration

  — Federal Transit Administration

  — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

TREASURY

UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (USAID)

UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE

UNITED STATES TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY

Federal Open Government Guide 10th Edition. Formerly titled "How to Use the Federal FOI Act"

Editor Corinna J. Zarek Contributors Gregg P. Leslie, Kathleen Cullinan, Hannah Bergman, Scott Albright, Stacey Laskin, Jason Wiederin

Published by The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, Lucy A. Dalglish, Executive Director. Special thanks to Editor Emeritus Rebecca Daugherty

© 2009 The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. ISBN: 1-58078-107-1

Individual copies and bulk orders of this guide are available through the Reporters Committee. Contact us for pricing information.

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, 1101 Wilson Blvd., Suite 1100, Arlington, Va. 22209. (703) 807-2100. Contact us.

 

Funding for this guide provided by: Sigma Delta Chi Foundation of the Society of Professional Journalists and The Gannett Foundation