FOIA requests
Government transparency petitions
FOIA requests are formal demands for government records under the Freedom of Information Act, a 1966 U.S. law requiring federal agencies to disclose documents to the public.
Journalists, researchers, and citizens file FOIA requests to obtain information about government activities: The reporter's FOIA request revealed the agency had destroyed evidence.
Processing can take months or years, and agencies may redact sensitive material.
- right to knowLegal access to information
- public interestSocietal welfare and benefit
- appeal processProcedure for contesting decisions
- exemptionsReleases from obligation
- black markerInk pen, dark pigment
response time · fee waivers · open government · declassified · democratic accountability · watchdog organizations · lawsuit · investigative journalism · anti-corruption efforts · public records · civic engagement · agencies · archives · sunshine · public · documents · blackout · accountability
- Data Journalisminfographics, charts, graphs, data visualization, statistics
- government recordspublic records, legal records, presidential records, state laws, federal contracts
- government transparencyFOIA, sunshine laws, public records, open data, open meetings
- records managementrecordkeeping, record keeping, document management, data retention, file management
- archivesnational archives, state archives, archivist, archive box, national archive
- Disclosuresdisclosures, financial statements, annual reports, quarterly reports, earnings reports
FOIA requestspress releases
Formal announcements for journalists
public announcements · government publications · mandatory reporting · whistleblowing · leaks
FOIA requestsstate secrets
Protected government information
classified information · sealed records · cover-ups · stonewalling · classification
FOIA requestspropaganda
Biased information for influence
disinformation · censorship · information control · state media · gag orders