The federal government is likely to receive a record number of FOIA requests again in 2024

Integrating AI-powered tools into FOIA processing could be a game changer, reducing backlogs, lowering costs, and improving accuracy.

By Amy Hilbert, Commentary, Gov’t Exec., Oct. 15, 2024

In recent years, the federal government has seen a sharp rise in the volume and complexity of Freedom of Information Act requests, creating an overwhelming challenge for government agencies.  

In fiscal year 2023, the federal government received an all-time high of 1,199,644 FOIA requests — a staggering 29% increase from the previous year. According to preliminary data from FOIA.gov, this surge shows no signs of slowing down. In the first three quarters of FY 2024, the federal government has already received more than 928,000 requests — an increase of more than 18% from the same period in the previous year. If the final quarter follows a similar pattern, the number of FOIA submissions will easily surpass 1.3 million for the year. 

This rising volume underscores the public's increasing desire for transparency and accountability. However, the sheer number of requests is only part of the story. The complexity of these requests is also evolving, posing further challenges for government agencies already struggling with reduced staffing levels and outdated technologies. 

This perfect storm of expanding demand and stagnant capabilities has created significant backlogs across many agencies and significantly increased processing and litigation costs. These trends are forcing agencies to rethink how they handle public information requests, with many looking to advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence to alleviate the burden. 

Read more here.