Making a FOIA Request

  The FOIA Process  Making a FOIA Request ↓↑ Pre-determination communications ↓ Pre-determination agency actions ↓ Determinations ↓ Releasing Records ↓↑ Administrative Appeals and/or OGIS ↓ Litigation

Introduction
Submitting a request is the first step in gaining access to agency records under FOIA.

There are several issues to consider when making a FOIA request, including procedural requirements set out by the statute and the agency, and the specificity of the request.

Identity of the Requester
A FOIA request may be made by “any person.” This means that all U.S. citizens, as well as foreign nationals, can use the Act to request information from government agencies. A request can also be made in the name of a corporation, partnership or other entity, such as a public interest group or news organization.

However, agencies that are part of the Intelligence Community are prohibited from providing records to: "(i) any government entity, other than a State, territory, commonwealth, or district of the United States, or any subdivision thereof; or (ii) a representative of a government entity described in clause (i)."

Procedural requirements
FOIA states that "each agency, upon any request for records which (i) reasonably describes such records and (ii) is made in accordance with published rules stating the time, place, fees (if any), and procedures to be followed, shall make the records promptly available to any person."

Specifying the records
FOIA requires that requested records be “reasonably describe[d].” As one court has said, a request meets this requirement if “the agency is able to determine precisely what records are being requested.” As another put it, the standard is met when it allows “a professional employee of the agency who [is] familiar with the subject area of the request to locate the record with a reasonable amount of effort.”

“Broad, sweeping requests lacking specificity” should also be avoided, because agencies are not required to fulfill them when they are not “able to determine precisely what records are being requested.” For example, in a case where a requester sought “any and all documents, including but not limited to files, that refer or relate in any way to [the requester],” the court found the request to be too broad because the agency could not locate with reasonable effort the specific documents requested. In another case, a “blanket request for all unpublished manuscript decisions” of the patent office was considered “sweeping and indiscriminate” where more than a million documents might have been responsive records. A request for all documents about an individual requester is often considered too broad.

A request must be written so that employees of the agency will be able to identify responsive records, not “questions disguised as a FOIA request” or requests that appear to be “a general fishing expedition for answers to questions.”

Requests for Fees and Fee Waivers
For more information, see Fee Categories and Fee Waivers

A requester may wish to include information identifying what fee category they fit into, and/or a request for a waiver of fees.

Expedited Processing
For more information, see Expedited Processing

A requester may wish to ask for expedited processing of their FOIA request.

Examples of FOIA Requests

 * Recently FOIA requests submitted through Muckrock can be accessed here.

Sample Request Template
(Requester address/contact information)

(Agency address/contact information)

(date)

RE: FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUEST

Dear FOIA Officer:

This letter constitutes a request under the federal Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”), 5 U.S.C. § 552. Pursuant to the FOIA I request access to and copies of (clearly describe the records sought. Include, if possible, details such as names, places, dates. Consider attaching or referencing news clips, reports and other documents describing the subject of your research.)

I would like to receive the information in (electronic, paper, original, etc.) format.

(provide information about the requester for purposes of fee categorization: representative of the news media, educational, non-commercial, commercial)

(optional: insert request for public interest fee waiver)

I am willing to pay up to $(__) to process my request. Please inform me if the fees will exceed that amount before proceeding.

(optional: insert request for expedited processing)

If this request is denied in whole or part, please justify all such denials by reference to specific exemptions, and provide an explanation of why (relevant agency) "reasonable foresees that disclosure would harm an interest" protected by that exemption. 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(8). Please also ensure that all segregable portions of otherwise exempt material are released.

If you have any questions regarding this request, please feel free to contact me at (provide contact information)

I look forward to your determination within (if non-expedited request: 20 working days; if expedited request, 10 calendar days) of this request, as is required by law. Thank you in advance for your assistance in this matter.

Sincerely,

(Requester name/signature and contact information)

Submitting the request
Agencies accept FOIA requests in different ways, including mail, email, fax, and online portals. A requester should consult the agency's regulations and website to determine how to submit the request. You can find information about an agency by searching for it in the box above or by navigating to it from the agency information landing page.