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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 [//rcfp.org 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.

Note: COVID-19 is affecting many agencies' FOIA processes. Responses and litigation may be delayed; get the latest information here.

 New to FOIA? 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
 * History
 * Current Guidance
 * OGIS Guidance
 * OIP Guidance
 * Affirmative Disclosures
 * (a)(1) requirements
 * (a)(2) requirements
 * Enforcement of affirmative disclosures
 * Entities Subject to FOIA
 * Records Subject to FOIA
 * Defining agency records
 * Agency records vs. Congressional records
 * Agency records vs. personal records
 * Making a FOIA Request
 * Identity of the requester
 * Procedural requirements
 * Contents of a request/specificity
 * Sample requests and templates
 * Submitting the request
 * Fees and Fee Categories
 * Types of fees
 * News media requesters
 * Educational & scientific requesters
 * Commercial Requesters
 * Other Requesters
 * Fee Waivers
 * Expedited Processing


 * Pre-determination agency actions
 * Accepting requests
 * Multitrack processing
 * Searching for records
 * Sufficiency of an agency's search
 * Consultations/Referrals
 * Pre-determination communications
 * Acknowledgements
 * Estimated date of completion
 * Requests for information from the requester
 * "Still interested" letters
 * Public liaisons and FOIA officers
 * Determinations
 * Agency deadlines and extensions
 * Required Contents
 * Releasing Records
 * Timing
 * Duty to segregate
 * Format of Records
 * Administrative Appeals
 * Timing of an administrative appeal
 * What can be appealed?
 * Contents of an administrative appeal
 * Timing of the agency response
 * New issues raised on appeal
 * Sample administrative appeals
 * Office of Government Information Services
 * Mediation
 * Compliance Reviews
 * Recommendations/Other
 * 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)
 * Trade Secrets
 * Commercial or Financial Information
 * Exemption 5 (discovery privileges)
 * Threshold Requirement
 * Deliberative Process Privilege
 * Work Product Privilege
 * Attorney-Client Privilege
 * Other Privileges
 * Exemption 6 (personal privacy)
 * Threshold Requirement
 * Privacy Interest
 * Public Interest
 * Exemption 7 (law enforcement)
 * Threshold Requirement
 * Exemption 7(A)
 * Exemption 7(B)
 * Exemption 7(C)
 * Exemption 7(D)
 * Exemption 7(E)
 * Exemption 7(F)
 * Exemption 8 (regulation of financial institutions)
 * Exemption 9 (wells)
 * § 552(c) Exclusions
 * Glomar Responses
 * Waiver and Prior Disclosure
 * Discretionary Disclosure


 * Specific Subject Matters
 * Algorithms and Computer Code
 * Litigation
 * Standing
 * Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies
 * Jurisdiction and Venue
 * Statute of Limitations
 * Complaints
 * Service and Answers
 * Preliminary Injunctions
 * Motions to Dismiss
 * 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


 * Index of all FOIA Wiki articles