The Department of Health and Human Services, whose FOIA request load often places it in the top five government-wide, has released its annual FOIA report for fiscal year 2023. Here is a summary of the notable data:

• Requests received: 46,530, an increase of nearly 21 percent from FY 2022, when it received 38,462 requests.

• Requests processed: 47,038, an increase of 26 percent from FY 2022, when it processed 37,241 requests.

• Backlog of requests: 11,256, down one-half percent from 11,320 at end of FY 2022.

• Appeals received: 466, which is just shy of 6 percent higher than in FY 2022 (440).

• Appeals processed: 411, which is 14 percent lower than in FY 2022 (478)

• Backlog of appeals: 640, up 10 percent from 581 in FY 2022.

• Costs: A total of S39.7 million, with $32.23 million in administrative costs and $7.46 million in litigation costs. This is approximately 18 percent higher than total costs in FY 2022 ($33.5 million).