Letter Regarding FOIA Amendment in D.C. Budget Support Act

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press sent a letter to the Council of the District of Columbia to express concern in response to a proposal that would restrict the scope of information and records available to the public under the District’s Freedom of Information Act. The proposal would narrow the definition of a public record subject to disclosure, improperly burden requesters by requiring them to “describe with particularity” what they are seeking, and seems to require the public to submit only requests that an agency could handle within FOIA’s time limits. The letter urges Council Chairman Phil Mendelson to suspend further consideration of the proposal until it receives a more thorough public hearing.

2019-05-13-Letter Re FOIA Amendment in D.C. Budget Support Act