The Department of Veterans Affairs published its annual FOIA report on Friday, March 27, 2026. Here are the key metrics:
124,435 requests received, up from 105,725 in FY 2024
123,103 requests processed, up from 119,453 in FY 2024
Request backlog climbed from 1539 in FY 2024 to 3549 in FY 2025, a 130 percent increase
1017 appeals received; 764 appeals processed
Average response time for all perfected requests was 21.5 days for “simple” requests and 22.2 days for “complex” requests.
Of 570 requests for expedited processing, 80 were granted and 490 were denied
Of 853 requests for fee waivers, 300 were granted and 553 were denied
Total costs of $20.3 million; $195k processing fees collected
See the full report in VA’s reading room library.