New 2023 Chief FOIA Officer Report Guidelines Now Available

Dep’t of Justice, Office of Info. Policy, Sept. 14, 2022

The FOIA requires agency Chief FOIA Officers to report to the Attorney General on their performance in implementing the law.  Accordingly, since 2009, the Department of Justice has directed agency Chief FOIA Officers to “review all aspects of their agencies’ FOIA administration” and to report annually to the Department of Justice on the efforts undertaken “to improve FOIA operations and facilitate information disclosure at their agencies.”  Every year, OIP provides specific guidance to agencies on the content and timing of agency Chief FOIA Officer Reports and today we have issued the guidelines for agency 2023 Chief FOIA Officer Reports. 

In their 2023 Chief FOIA Officer Reports, OIP requires agencies to report steps taken in five key areas of FOIA administration highlighted in the Attorney General’s 2022 FOIA Guidelines:

1. FOIA Leadership and Applying the Presumption of Openness,

2. Ensuring Fair and Effective FOIA Administration,

3. Proactive Disclosures,

4. Steps Taken to Greater Utilize Technology; and

5. Steps Taken to Remove Barriers to Access, Improve Timeliness in Responding to Requests, and Reduce Backlogs.

Read more here.