The federal government conducts the public’s business, and as such, the public should have access to government work. FOIA is a check on corruption, waste and government wrongdoing. Without responsiveness and transparency, there can be no accountability.

FOIA is in need of reform. Federal records must be presumed open and the Office of Government Information Services — created to improve the FOIA process — must empower its ombudsman to ensure timely compliance. Federal agencies should face consequences for ignoring or refusing to honor FOIA requests — especially if those seeking the records have to go to court to obtain them.

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