FOIA News: Majority of agencies have failed to update FOIA regs

Majority of Agencies Have Fallen Behind on Updating FOIA Rules

By Charles S. Clark, Government Executive, Mar. 14, 2017

This story has been updated with comment from the Justice Department's Office of Information Policy,   

Nine months after President Obama signed a major reform of the Freedom of Information Act, a new survey shows that only 38 of 99 agencies have updated their rules,  according to the private nonprofit National Security Archive.

This lapse could harm transparency, the group said in its 16th such survey since 2002, noting that the 2016 FOIA Improvement Act required agencies to update their internal FOIA regulations within 180 days—making the deadline last Dec. 27.

Read more here. 

FOIA News: FOIA March Madness

It's tip-off time for FOIA March Madness 2017

The battle for most responsive agency begins this Sunshine Week

Beryl Lipton, MuckRock, Mar. 14, 2017

Today’s the day.

They made it through the draft, out the door, onto the floor, through this painful metaphor, and now our FOIA March Madness 2017 requests are ready to be processed and represent their agencies for the position of MuckRock’s Most Responsive Agency.

We’ve asked 64 federal agencies for materials related to their appeal process. Each FOIA office has a process for dealing with Freedom of Information Act requests that the requester feels has been handled inappropriately - it took too long, the fee category was wrong, maybe they got a little liberal with those black boxes. We want to know what that process is and which appeals have made it through successfully.

Read more here.

FOIA News: MuckRock's guide to protests

MuckRock's guide to protests and FOIA

Grace Raih, MuckRock, Mar. 15, 2017

In a democracy, the power of the people comes from the ability to hold their government accountable. We’re launching a project to provide a comprehensive list of FOIA resources that will help you to prepare, participate and investigate protests.

Today, we’ll be looking at what to look out for during a protest.

Read more here.

FOIA News: FHFA amends FOIA regulations

The Federal Housing Finance Agency published an interim final rule to amend its FOIA regulations in today's issue of the Federal Register.  The changes are intended to comply with the FOIA Improvement Act of 2016, among other things.  The rule is effective March 15, 2017.  FHFA is accepting written comments until May 15, 2017.

FOIA News: OIP to help agencies help themselves

Agency FOIA offices to get self-help tool from DOJ

By Meredith Somers, Federal News Radio, Mar. 13, 2017 

The Justice Department’s Office of Information Policy is offering agencies a Freedom of Information Act toolkit, a resource for self-assessments that officials hope will improve government transparency after a record year of information requests.

OIP Director Melanie Pustay said the toolkit will be available later in 2017, and is part of DOJ’s overarching Open Government Plan to “move the ball forward” and help Justice components with their transparency and FOIA mission.

Read more here.

FOIA News: Transparency hearing postponed

The House Oversight Committee has postponed its scheduled March 15th hearing on “Legislative Proposals for Fostering Transparency.”  See notice here.   Witnesses have not been announced by the committee.  Earlier yesterday, however, Judicial Watch announced that its president, Tom Fitton, would be providing testimony.    

FOIA News: Court Serv. & Offender Supervision Agency updates FOIA regs

The Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia has issued new FOIA regulations to reflect the changes required by FOIA Improvement Act of 2016, according to an interim final rule published in today's Federal Register.  There is no public comment period.  

FOIA News: FOIA suits cost $36 million in 2016

Obama's Final Year: US Spent $36 Million in Records Lawsuits

Ted Bridis, Associated Press, Mar. 14, 2017

The Obama administration in its final year in office spent a record $36.2 million on legal costs defending its refusal to turn over federal records under the Freedom of Information Act, according to an Associated Press analysis of new U.S. data that also showed poor performance in other categories measuring transparency in government.

Read more here.

FOIA News: Agency not required to search private email, court rules

Judge shuts down FOIA suit that set precedent on private emails

By Josh Gerstein, Politico, Mar. 13, 2017

A pro-business group's lawsuit set an important precedent last year that messages on a federal employee's private email account can be subject to release under the Freedom of Information Act.

However, the suit came up short Monday on its original goal of persuading a federal judge to order an actual search of the private email account in question.

Read more here.

FOIA News: Volunteers needed to transcribe declassified records

Celebrate Sunshine Week By Transcribing Once Top-Secret Documents

The National Archives wants you…to make documents more accessible to future generations

By Erin Blakemore, Smithsonian.com, Mar. 13, 2017

Since 2005, news organizations, freedom of speech advocates and government institutions have spent a week each year mid-March celebrating access to public information. It’s called Sunshine Week, and it’s a chance to draw attention to the types of information funded—and owned—by all. Now, reports Shaunacy Ferro of mental_floss, you can get in on the act by helping transcribe hundreds of recently declassified documents for the National Archives.

Read more here.