Freedom of Information Act: Actions Needed to Improve Agency Compliance with Proactive Disclosure Requirements

Government Accountability Office, Mar. 17, 2021

The Freedom of Information Act requires federal agencies to provide public access to certain records and information without waiting for specific requests.

Only 1 of 3 agencies we studied had policies in place to address and document compliance with these proactive disclosure requirements. None of the 3 fully complied with requirements to track and report the number of records disclosed each fiscal year.

We made several recommendations to multiple agencies. For example, the Department of Justice should follow up with agencies that report making zero disclosures to help encourage agencies to make proactive disclosures as required.

Read more here.