Freedom of Information Act

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is a federal law that permits public access to federal executive agency information. The intent of the Act is to “ensure an informed citizenry.”

The general policy is that the agency will allow public disclosure of records in its possession, except when those records are protected from disclosure by one of the FOIA exemptions, which include:

• Classified information

• Internal administrative matters

• Exempted by another statute

• Trade secrets or commercial or financial information submitted on privileged or confidential basis

• Inter- or intra-agency documents normally privileged in the civil discovery context

• Information in personnel, medical, and similar files, which, if disclosed to the requester, would result in a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy

• Law enforcement information

The agency must either provide the requested records or provide a reason for denying the request in a timely manner.