Last Summer, I posted this on the blog about problems with FOIAOnline, which is the first of two FOIA portals used by multiple agencies of the Federal Government. At the time, the portal had been redesigned but the site was having issues with functions that it had done properly. Today, this is the warning received to those visiting FOIAOnline - months after the upgrade was "completed." Further, back in September, a glitch was reported that allowed personal information to be released via the site.
At the same time, a rival portal has been started and administered by the Department of Justice. This portal merely links you back to the originating agency and then allows you to electronically make a request by whichever means that agency uses for electronic requests.
The last amendments to the FOIA required a creation of a FOIA portal - however, it didn't limit the number nor did it give explicit details on the how (and it didn't really pay for it). It may be worthwhile for a GAO study on the issue with a detailed examination of the two portals and the flaws (and positives of both). Further, the House Oversight Committee may want to examine these rival portals and discover just how much duplication of effort is going on at this point and see if there is a better way forward.
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