JOURNAL ARTICLE

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA): An Overview.

  • Published In: Public Lawyer, 2025, v. 33, n. 2. P. 7 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Makande, Lydia; Minami, Kristine 3 of 3

Abstract

The article focuses on the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), a federal law enacted in 1966 that grants the public the right to access federal executive agency records, thereby promoting government transparency and accountability. It outlines the history of FOIA, including significant amendments that have expanded its scope, such as the Electronic Freedom of Information Act Amendments of 1996 and the FOIA Improvement Act of 2016. The article also discusses trends in FOIA requests, noting a substantial increase in requests from approximately 605,491 in fiscal year 2008 to around 1,200,000 in fiscal year 2023, and highlights the challenges agencies face in processing these requests due to resource constraints. Additionally, it details the process for making a FOIA request, the criteria for agency records, the nine exemptions that allow agencies to withhold information, and the avenues available for administrative appeals and judicial review. [Extracted from the article]

Additional Information

  • Source:Public Lawyer. 2025/07, Vol. 33, Issue 2, p7
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Library and Information Science
  • Publication Date:2025
  • ISSN:1079-4247
  • Accession Number:186817754
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