The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is a U.S. law that grants the public the right to access records from any federal agency. FOIA promotes transparency and accountability in the government by ensuring that citizens can request and receive information about government operations and decisions. FOIA plays a crucial role in supporting democracy by enabling investigative journalism, academic research, and informed citizen participation in government. The 4 short videos below are a small sample of all the videos and information about filing a FOIA Request that you will find at FOIA.GOV.

Since 1967, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) has provided the public the right to request access to records from any federal agency. Federal agencies are required to disclose any information requested under the FOIA unless it falls under one of nine exemptions which protect interests such as personal privacy, national security, and law enforcement. As Congress, the President, and the Supreme Court have all recognized, the FOIA is a vital part of our democracy.

FOIA.gov serves as the government’s comprehensive FOIA website for all information on the FOIA. Among many other features, FOIA.gov provides a central resource for the public to understand the FOIA, to locate records that are already available online, and to make a request for information that is not yet publicly available. FOIA.gov also promotes agency accountability for the administration of the FOIA by comparing agencies performance in Annual FOIA Reports.

Before making a request, first look to see if the information you are interested in is already publicly available. You can find a lot of useful information on a range of topics on each agency’s website. You can also search for information agencies have already posted online here on FOIA.gov. If the information you want is not publicly available, you can submit a FOIA request to the agency’s FOIA Office. The request must be in writing and reasonably describe the records you seek.

Agencies typically process requests in the order of receipt. The time it takes to respond to a request will vary depending on the complexity of the request and any backlog of requests already pending at the agency. A simple request can be processed faster by the agency than one that is complex. Simple requests are typically more targeted and seek fewer pages of records. Complex requests typically seek a high volume of material or require additional steps to process.