Since 1967, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) has provided the public the right to request access to records from any federal agency. It is often described as the law that keeps citizens in the know about their government. Federal agencies are required to disclose any information requested under the FOIA unless it falls under one of nine exemptions which protect interests such as personal privacy, national security, and law enforcement. The FOIA also requires agencies to proactively post online certain categories of information, including frequently requested records. As Congress, the President, and the Supreme Court have all recognized, the FOIA is a vital part of our democracy.

Before making a request, first look to see if the information you are interested in is already publicly available. You can find a lot of useful information on a range of topics in our Document Library section. If the information you want is not publicly available, you can submit a FOIA request to the agency’s FOIA Office using our public portal.

A FOIA request can be made for any agency record. You can also specify the format in which you wish to receive the records (for example, printed or electronic form). The FOIA does not require agencies to create new records or to conduct research, analyze data, or answer questions when responding to requests.

After an agency receives your FOIA request, you will usually receive a letter acknowledging the request with an assigned tracking number. If the agency requires additional information before it can begin to process your request, it will contact you. The agency will typically search for records in response to your request and then review those records to determine which - and what parts of each - can be released. The agency will redact, or black out, any information protected from disclosure by one of the FOIA’s nine exemptions. The releasable records will then be sent to you. to help lower their utility costs.

There is no initial fee required to submit a FOIA request, but the FOIA does provide for the charging of certain types of fees in some instances. For a typical requester, the agency can charge for the time it takes to search for records and for duplication of those records. There is usually no charge for the first two hours of search time or for the first 100 pages of duplication. You may always include in your request letter a specific statement limiting the amount that you are willing to pay in fees. If there are estimated assessable fees for your request, an agency will notify you in writing of the estimate and offer you an opportunity to narrow your request in order to reduce fees. If you agree to pay fees for a records search, you may be required to pay such fees even if the search does not locate any releasable records. You may also request a waiver of fees. Fee waivers are limited to situations where requesters can show that disclosure of the requested information is in the public interest in that disclosure is likely to contribute significantly to the public understanding of the operations and activities of the government.to help lower their utility costs.