Citing Privacy, Agriculture Department Withholds Names of Subsidy Recipients
Over the past decade, the Department of Agriculture has awarded more than a billion dollars in subsidies to large cooperatives,…
Over the past decade, the Department of Agriculture has awarded more than a billion dollars in subsidies to large cooperatives, which in turn pass the money along to individual farmers. But the department has refused a Freedom of Information Act request for the names of the people who actually get the money, claiming that “would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.” The Environmental Working Group, which filed the FOIA request, said it will appeal, and if necessary, sue. (10/11/05)