Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
The Freedom of Information Act, known as FOIA, is the federal law that lets people ask agencies for their records. It covers how a request is made, how agencies respond, what they may withhold, and how a requester can appeal. Federal agencies, the Department of Justice, the courts, and the requesters themselves, including journalists, researchers, and ordinary citizens, are the main players.
People usually want to know what a FOIA request is and where to send it. They ask why agencies withhold or black out records, how long a response can take, what to do after a denial, and how this law relates to other routes for getting government information, such as presidential records or declassification.
An independent team explaining how government works
Referenced by Brookings, CNN, Forbes, Fox News, Pew Research, Snopes, The Hill and USA Today.
The Webby-recognized AI behind our articles »
All Articles on Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
How January 6 Case Records Disappeared From Public View
On January 20, 2025, just hours after taking office for his second term, Donald Trump signed a proclamation pardoning more than 1,500 people convicted…
Deciding What Government Records the Public Can See
Public access to government records depends on who holds them, privacy and secrecy rules, and the routes for requesting files or challenging a denial.
Understanding Public Information and Classified Information: A Guide to Government Transparency
The United States government creates and manages a vast ocean of information. This ranges from publicly accessible reports and datasets to highly sensitive national…
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Executive Privilege
In democratic government, there are two fundamental yet sometimes conflicting interests: the public's inherent right to understand the workings of its government and the…
How to Access Government Records: The DoD FOIA Playbook
How to file a Freedom of Information Act request with the Defense Department: where to send it, how to word it, what it costs, and how to fight a denial.
How to Access the Declassified JFK Assassination Records
The assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963, remains one of the most intensely scrutinized events in American history. For decades,…