Help Filing A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Request

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is the federal law, enacted in 1966, that makes government information accessible to the people. The law is based on the presumption that individuals have a right to know what their government is up to and that government agencies have a duty to provide full disclosure of all records that are not specifically and reasonably exempt.

FOIA applies to all 15 departments (Education, Homeland Security, etc.) and 73 other federal agencies (Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Reserve System) in the executive branch of the U.S. government. It does not apply to the president, Congress or the courts. It does not apply to state governments (though each of the 50 states has its own freedom-of-information laws, as do many cities). (See Freedom of Information Act federal statute.)

The act lays out what kinds of information agencies must publish as a matter of course — both in print and, thanks to a 1996 amendment, the Electronic Freedom of Information Act (EFOIA), electronically on their Web sites. It also grants individuals the right to request copies of records not normally prepared for public distribution, and sets standards for determining which records must be made available.

It specifies what kinds of records may be withheld from disclosure by agency discretion through its nine exemptions and three exclusions.

FOIA outlines the procedures individuals should follow for requesting records and for appealing the decision if information is denied. It also establishes the right to judicial remedies if an agency does not comply with the law.

• "A Citizen's Guide on Using the Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act of 1974 to Request Government Records."
  Detailed, user-friendly guide prepared by the Committee on Government Reform and published by the Government Printing Office (Report 108-172) (This is a PDF download.)
  
• "How to Use the Federal FOI Act."
  Excellent guide prepared by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Geared specifically toward journalists.
  
• First Amendment Center
  Offers detailed and easy to follow instructions and tips for filing FOIA requests

"The SBA awarded
4 of the 6
high dollar procurements,
reported as small
business procurements,
to large companies
at the time of the
procurements.

SBA OIG Report 5-14
February 24, 2005