FOIA News: Yet another AI-powered request generator

A new request platform called FOIAflow launched today, introducing an automated approach to submitting FOIA requests. Developed by high school student Amanuel Asfaw and his brother, the web application allows users to input an investigation topic, after which the system manages filing, follow-ups, appeals, and document analysis. The platform casts itself as a direct challenge to MuckRock: “MuckRock is a 15-year-old nonprofit running on donations. They help you file. FOIAflow fights for you autonomously, relentlessly, at a fraction of the cost per record.”

FOIA News: FOIA might jeopardize homeland security, researcher warns

Research Highlights Freedom of Information Act Risks in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

By Matt Seldon, Homeland Security Today, Apr. 6, 2026

A graduate research project is raising questions about how longstanding transparency laws may be creating unintended risks for homeland security in the digital age.

In her thesis, Leaving the FOIA Window Open: Implications for U.S. Homeland Security in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, at the Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS), Melanie Simmons, a statistician at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), examines how the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) interacts with modern data and AI capabilities.

Originally designed for a paper-based environment, FOIA now operates in a landscape where large volumes of digital data can be released, aggregated, and analyzed at scale. Simmons’ research highlights how artificial intelligence can combine seemingly unrelated data points from multiple disclosures to reveal sensitive information—a concept known as the “Mosaic Theory.”

The study outlines how actors can leverage FOIA’s “blind requester” principle, which does not require individuals to disclose their intent, to submit large or strategic requests. When combined over time, these datasets can potentially be used to reconstruct law enforcement-sensitive information or identify operational patterns.

Read more here.

FOIA News: AI joins the records battle

A new website called FOIA Warfare offers an artificial intelligence–based tool to generate Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act requests, track deadlines, and draft administrative appeals. The service describes itself as a document preparation and workflow platform and emphasizes that it focuses on automated drafting and case management rather than submitting requests or publishing records on behalf of users.

FOIA News: Senior FOIA officer resigns from DOJ’s Civil Rights Division

As DOJ prepares to share state voter data with DHS, a key privacy officer resigns

By Jude Joffe-Block, NPR, Apr. 3, 2026

As Justice Department officials are working to acquire sensitive voter registration data from states and have recently disclosed a plan to share it with the Department of Homeland Security, a key privacy officer in DOJ's division tasked with enforcing civil and voting rights laws has resigned.

Kilian Kagle was the chief FOIA officer and senior component official for privacy for DOJ's Civil Rights Division before leaving his post in recent days. His resignation has not been previously reported.

Read more here.

FOIA News: Law Review note on A-File FOIA litigation

A recent Harvard Law Review note looks at using class action lawsuits to challenge repeated delays by the Department of Homeland Security in responding to FOIA requests for immigration “A-Files.” The author argues that class actions can be more effective than individual lawsuits when agencies regularly fail to act on requests.

FOIA News: Office of the National Cyber Director proposes new FOIA regs

The Office of the National Cyber Director, established by Congress in 2021 and located within the Executive Office of the President at the White House, has proposed its first regulations on public access to agency records under the Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act. The proposed regulations were published in the Federal Register on March 31, 2026. Public comments are due by May 15, 2026, and must be submitted at regulations.gov.

FOIA News: The VA publishes annual FOIA report

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.

FOIA News: The final four

As of 9:25am today, four departments have yet to post their annual reports: Agriculture; Health & Human Services; Homeland Security; and Justice. The deadline to post was March 1, 2026.

FOIA News: FOIA Advisor's Allan Blutstein Featured in Tax Notes FOIA Findings Newletter

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.  

…

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.  

Read more here.

FOIA News: OIP Announces Additional Training Dates

OIP Announces New Additional FOIA Training Dates for Fiscal Year 2026

DOJ/OIP, FOIA Post, Mar. 25, 2026

Today, the Office of Information Policy (OIP) announces new dates for Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) training for April through July.  As part of its responsibility to encourage agency compliance with the FOIA, OIP offers numerous training opportunities throughout the year for agency FOIA professionals and individuals with FOIA responsibilities.

These courses are designed to offer training opportunities for personnel from all stages of the FOIA workforce, from new hires to the experienced FOIA professionals or FOIA managers.  OIP will continue to offer virtual training sessions that will be taught in real-time by OIP instructors.  As we move into the Spring of Fiscal Year 2026, we are pleased to announce these virtual training courses, which are also listed on OIP’s Training page.

The courses and dates scheduled for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2026 are:

Introduction to the Freedom of Information Act
April 8, 2026

Processing a Request from Start to Finish 
April 22, 2026

Procedural Requirements, and Fee and Fee Waivers Training
May 6, 2026

Litigation Training
May 13, 2026

Administrative Appeals, FOIA Compliance, and Customer Service Training
May 20, 2026

Exemption 1 and Exemption 7 Training
June 3, 2026

Exemption 4 and Exemption 5 Training
June 17, 2026

Privacy Considerations Training
July 8, 2026

Continuing FOIA Education Training
July 22, 2026

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Read the rest of OIP’s post, including registration information, here.