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New to FOIA?
Read the FOIA Basics page to get started
Welcome to the FOIA Wiki!
This is a free and collaborative resource on the United States federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The FOIA Wiki is provided by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, with contributions from The FOIA Project at TRAC, MuckRock, The National Security Archive, FOIA Mapper, Open the Government, and users like you.
Read the FOIA Basics page to get started
- → Need information about an agency? Visit the Agencies Landing Page for regulations, statistics, record systems, lawsuits, and tips.
- → Interested in how advocates, journalists, litigators and organizations work together on FOIA? Read and contribute to the FOIA Collaboration Guide.
- → Want to get involved with the FOIA Wiki? See the help wanted category to find pages that need contributions. Read the FOIA Wiki Policies before making changes.
- → Are you looking for information about state public records laws? See the Reporters Committee's Open Government Guide.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- FOIA Basics
- Text of the FOIA
- Legislative History
- Agency FOIA Regulations
- Executive Branch Guidance
- Affirmative Disclosures
- Entities Subject to FOIA
- Records Subject to FOIA
- Making a FOIA Request
- Fees and Fee Categories
- Fee Waivers
- Expedited Processing
- Pre-determination agency actions
- Pre-determination communications
- Determinations
- Releasing Records
- Administrative Appeals
- Office of Government Information Services
- Requester options for agency delay/non-responsiveness
- Exemptions from disclosure
- Foreseeable Harm Standard
- Exemption 1 (classification)
- Exemption 2 (internal rules)
- Exemption 3 (prohibited by other statutes)
- Exemption 4 (trade secrets & commercial info)
- Exemption 5 (discovery privileges)
- Exemption 6 (personal privacy)
- Exemption 7 (law enforcement)
- Exemption 8 (regulation of financial institutions)
- Exemption 9 (wells)
- § 552(c) Exclusions
- Glomar Responses
- Waiver and Prior Disclosure
- Discretionary Disclosure
- Specific Subject Matters
- Litigation
- Standing
- Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies
- Jurisdiction and Venue
- Statute of Limitations
- Complaints
- Service and Answers
- Preliminary Injunctions
- Motions to Dismiss
- Open America Stays
- Release of Records in Litigation
- Discovery
- Vaughn Indices
- Agency Declarations
- In Camera Inspection
- Standard of Review
- Motions for Summary Judgment
- Trial
- Relief and Remedies
- Costs and Attorney Fees
- Appellate Practice
- Reverse FOIA Lawsuits
- Agency Reporting Requirements
- FOIA and the Privacy Act
- FOIA and the Administrative Procedure Act
- Mandatory Declassification Review
- Government Shutdowns and FOIA
- COVID-19 and FOIA
- Major Supreme Court FOIA Cases
- Additional Resources