What will a second Trump term mean for the Freedom of Information Act?

The law itself is likely to stand, but experts expect a surge in requests, longer delays, and more court dates.

By Andrew Deck Nieman Lab, Nov. 20, 2024

During the first Trump administration, one law arguably played an outsized role in fueling accountability reporting on the federal government. The Freedom of Information Act, or FOIA, has long been a cornerstone of investigative journalism in the U.S. Documents obtained through FOIA requests underpinned countless marquee investigative stories during Trump’s first term.

As bleak forecasts circulate about how the new administration might impact the lives and work of journalists in the U.S., I was curious to learn how the climate around government transparency and FOIA compliance might change. Is FOIA on solid footing as Trump heads back to the White House or could it be undercut by legislation — or, more discreetly, chipped away at, agency by agency?

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