The FOIA blog

DHS IG Makes Finding On Political Reviews

The AP is reporting that the Inspector General at the Department of Homeland Security found the reviews of FOIA requests by top political appointees were wasteful.  The House of Representatives is investigating the matter.

As a sidenote, there is nothing wrong with agencies knowing what FOIA releases are coming down the pike that may bring them publicity -- both good and bad.  I wrote about how agencies should go about being advised on high-level FOIA requests last fall over at LLRX.com.

Obama Administration FOIA Running on 2 Tracks

Two articles today illustrate how the Obama Administration's FOIA program is basically a train running on two parallel tracks.  The first track is the President who makes statements backing transparency -- according to the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the press, he met yesterday with some in the requester community to receive an award they devised.  Say what you will about his administration's actual progress on the FOIA, but he does say the right things.

The second track is the administration itself as demonstrated by the actions at the Department of Homeland Security in this Politico article.  Here the track moves against transparency for either reasons that are either political, arrogant or incompetence (I'm guessing a little of both).  A top aide to Secretary Napolitano who either doesn't care about transparency or doesn't understand it was bored by a FOIA presentation and made belittle FOIA employees. The correct move for the Secretary is to remove this person from office.  

The correct move for the White House is to appoint someone at the Department of Justice or OMB to whip all the agencies in line and follow the words of the President.

My Latest LLRX Article -- An Editiorial About Funding FOIA

My latest LLRX Article has been published.  I give my views on budgeting and funding FOIA Operations -- I urge FOIA professionals to speak out to their congresspeople on this issue.

India FOIA Request a "risky proposition"

Transparency Revolution brings us this article about what happened to a requester of government information in India.  I am glad I only make requests in the USA!

Navy Sued For Subcontracting Data

The Navy has been sued by the American Small Business League for subcontracting information pertaining to government contractor SAIC.  SunHerald.com has more on the story. 

Today on FOIA Chat

Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Ryan Gabrielson will be on FOIA chat today at 2 p.m. EDT to talk on the topic "From Tip to Story: How to Write an Investigative Piece.  You can join in on FOIA Chat by going to @FOIAchat on twitter.

Rove Founded Group Files FOIA Lawsuit

Jonathan Salant of Bloomberg writes about a group founded by former Bush Adviser Karl Rove, Crossroads Global Policy Strategies has sued the government for information about who has received waivers from Health and Human Services for complying for portions of the Health Care Reform Act.

Do I need to even point out the irony in this?

 

DOJ Proposes New FOIA Regulations

The Department of Justice has issued new proposed FOIA regulations.  The regulations and contact information for commenting on them can be found here.

Supreme Court Declines to Hear Fed Dispute

The Supreme Court has denied a petition for writ of certiori by the Clearing House Association seeking to overturn a lower court decision that the Federal Reserve has to turn over the names of banks who took emergency loans during the financial crisis of 2008.  Both Bloomberg, the requester and the government had opposed the Supreme Court hearing the case.

The San Diego Reader has more on the case.

Sunshine Week Roundup

The FOIA Hall of Fame inducted five new members last week.  The First Amendment Center actually has the Hall of Fame and it inducts members every five years.

U.S. News and World Reports has this report on the FOIA, that says the Executive Branch agency with the most FOIA request is the Department of Homeland Security.

The Office of Government Information Services has issued a report on its first year and Reporter Committee for Freedom of the Press breaks it down.