Entities Subject to FOIA

Introduction
FOIA applies to most "agencies" within the executive branch of the federal government. It does not apply to Congress, the courts, or state or local entities. (Though note that all states have their own “open records” laws that provide access to state and local records - see the RCFP Open Government Guide for more information.

In analyzing whether a body or organization comes under the definition of agency subject to FIOA, a court considers various factors:
 * whether the structure and operation of an entity is subject to considerable federal control];
 * whether the authority performs a governmental or decision making function;
 * whether the authority controls public interested information.

Entities Held To Be Agencies Subject to FOIA

 * The Defense Nuclear Safety Board
 * The Government Printing Office
 * The Council on Environmental Quality
 * The Cost Accounting Standards Board
 * The Office of the Pardon Attorney
 * The United States Parole Commission
 * The United States Board of Parole
 * The Watergate Special Prosecution Force
 * The FBI
 * The Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation
 * Amtrak

Entities Held Not To Be Agencies Subject to FOIA

 * The National Security Council
 * Office of Counsel to the President
 * The Presidential Task Force on Regulatory Relief
 * The President's immediate personal staff or any units in the Executive Office [of the President] whose sole function is to advise and assist the President
 * Federal medical peer review panels
 * The Council of Economic Advisers
 * The National Academy of Sciences
 * The Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Service
 * The Red Cross
 * The Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
 * Conrail
 * Teview groups who make preliminary recommendations on research grant applications submitted to NIMH
 * An FDA drug review panel
 * The University Group Diabetes Program

Statutory definition
The Administrative Procedure Act (APA) defines "agency" to mean “each authority of the government of the United States, whether or not it is within or subject to review by another agency,” with certain exceptions, specifically including the courts and Congress.

"Agency", as defined in 5 U.S.C. 552(f)(1), cross-references the definition in the APA, and additionally includes "any executive department, military department, Government corporation, Government controlled corporation, or other establishment in the executive branch of the Government (including the Executive Office of the President), or any independent regulatory agency;"

The Privacy Act incorporates the FOIA definition of agency.

Entities receiving federal funding

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Note that not all entities receiving federal funding are subject to FOIA - see above in relation to the American Red Cross — which receives federal funds but is neither chartered nor controlled by the federal government.

However, some entities that receive federal funds but are not subject to FOIA, such as the Smithsonian Institution, voluntarily adopt disclosure policies very similar to FOIA.

Contractors

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