Lawmakers Press Garland on Access to Documents for Public, Congress

Teresa Mettela, Wall St. J., Feb. 23, 2022

WASHINGTON—A bipartisan group of lawmakers is urging Attorney General Merrick Garland to press federal agencies to emphasize transparency and openness when responding to Freedom of Information Act requests, after government reports showed an increase in denials in recent years.

The House oversight and Senate judiciary committees sent a letter to Mr. Garland asking him to issue a memorandum encouraging agencies to implement FOIA in a manner that will increase access to government documents for the public and Congress.

“A clear message from you that transparency is a priority would encourage agencies to fully comply with the law,” the lawmakers said.

Read more here.

A copy of the congressional letter is here.