DOJ'S SUNSHINE WEEK 2021 KICK-OFF AND ANNUAL FOIA AWARDS
DOJ/OIP, FOIA Post, Mar. 16, 2021
While the way in which attendees participated differed than in years past, the Office of Information Policy (OIP) celebrated its annual kick-off to Sunshine Week virtually on March 15, 2021. The event featured remarks from the Attorney General, Acting Associate Attorney General, and OIP's Director, as well as the presentation of the 2021 Sunshine Week FOIA Awards.
The first entirely virtual DOJ Sunshine Week event began with a video message from Attorney General Merrick Garland. On the very first day of his first full week in the Department, Attorney General Garland began his remarks by emphasizing that "[t]he principles of open government and democratic accountability are at the heart of who we are as public servants and as Americans.” He further stated that "[w]ithout accountability, democracy is impossible. And democratic accountability requires the kind of transparency that the FOIA makes possible. That's why faithful administration of the FOIA is essential [to] American democracy."
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