FOIA Findings
By Lauren Loricchio, FOIA Findings, Mar. 26, 2026
Since March happens to include Sunshine Week — a nonpartisan project designed to raise awareness about the importance of open government, transparency, and the public’s right to access public records — we’ll take a look at how the IRS and Treasury are doing in meeting their obligations under the Freedom of Information Act.
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Allan Blutstein, a Republican opposition researcher and FOIA attorney, said that given the loss of FOIA staff in 2025, including reviewing attorneys, he wouldn’t be surprised if the quality of agency responses has declined.
“From my time in the government, the prevailing view was that it was much better to be late than wrong,” said Blutstein, who previously worked as a FOIA attorney at Treasury and the Justice Department.
“Given how few requesters file appeals — and even fewer litigate — along with the pressure to keep up with incoming requests, I can see how some offices might be tempted to shift toward speed despite the risks,” Blutstein said.
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