What can I request FOIA

Classified national defense and foreign relations information.Internal agency rules and practices.Information that is prohibited from disclosure by another law.Trade secrets and other confidential business information.

What information can you get from a FOIA request?

• Classified national defense and foreign relations information.
• Internal agency rules and practices.
• Information that is prohibited from disclosure by another law.
• Trade secrets and other confidential business information.

Can FOIA requests be anonymous?

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests are not confidential. Once a FOIA request is received, it becomes a public record of the USGS. If the request contains personally identifying information or the request is deemed “sensitive,” we may redact information under FOIA Exemption 6 (personal privacy).

What types of things can not be requested through FOIA?

• Non-agency records and personal records.
• Public requests for access to physical artifacts or scientific samples (e.g. core samples, sediment, rocks, fossils, specimen samples, blood samples).

How long is FBI FOIA?

Time Limits Under the law, all federal agencies are required to respond to a FOIA request within 20 business days, unless there are “unusual circumstances.” This time period generally begins when the request is received by the FOIA office of the Department of Justice component that maintains the records sought.

When can a FOIA be denied?

Can the FCC deny my FOIA request? Yes. If the Bureau or Office that is the custodian of the records determines that there are no records responsive to your request, or that one or more of the FOIA exemptions described above applies to the documents you request, your request will be denied in writing.

Can you FOIA the White House?

About FOIA NOTE: The White House Office is a separate component of the Executive Office of the President (EOP). If you wish to request information from the White House Office, you may do so at OSTP does not process FOIA requests for the White House Office.

Are FOIA documents redacted?

There is no central office in the government that handles FOIA requests for all federal departments and agencies. … The agency will redact, or black out, any information protected from disclosure by one of the FOIA’s nine exemptions.

Does the FOIA apply to Congress or to the White House?

The FOIA does not apply to the Congress, the courts, or the central offices of the White House, nor does it apply to records in the custody of state or local governments.

What is a foyer request?

×Close. New Request. The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is a federal law that gives the public the right to make requests for federal agency records. Agencies may withhold information according to nine exemptions contained in the statute. The FOIA applies only to federal agencies.

Article first time published on

Do Freedom of Information requests cost money?

Freedom of Information requests – used by campaigners and journalists to ask questions of public bodies – are to remain free of charge, a minister says. Following a review of the law, Cabinet Office minister Matt Hancock said the FoI Act was “working well”.

How much does FBI FOIA cost?

When sending the FBI FOIA request, you can expect to have to pay up to $25 for fees. You may say how much money you are willing to spend when writing the request—more or less than $25. If you are eligible for a fee waiver, you can avoid paying fees altogether.

Can anyone request FBI records for deceased?

The Freedom of Information Act allows any person—except fugitives, federal agencies, and foreign intelligence agencies-to request information about organizations, businesses, investigations, historical events, incidents, groups or deceased persons.

Do all arrests get reported FBI?

The vast majority of arrests are public record, so they may show up on a background check. Some states may restrict access to certain arrest information, and others may destroy or omit information if the subject in the case is found not guilty or if the claim is dismissed.

Can you FOIA the president?

You can not request access to presidential records during the President’s term of office. FOIA does not apply to offices within the Executive Office of the President whose function is to advise and assist the President.

Is the President exempt from FOIA?

Office of Administration — FOIA The Office of Administration (OA), whose sole function is to provide common administrative support and services to all units within the Executive Office of the President, is not subject to FOIA and any related legislation.

How do I submit a FOIA request to the White House?

1. Commercial use requesters. …
2. Educational and non-commercial scientific institution requests. …
3. Representatives of the news media. …
4. All other requesters.

Can anyone make a FOIA request?

Any person can file a FOIA request, including U.S. citizens, foreign nationals, organizations, universities, businesses, and state and local governments. Federal employees may not use government time or equipment when requesting information under the FOIA.

Can you FOIA an open investigation?

Yes. The second clause of Exemption 7(D) authorizes the nondisclosure of all confidential information furnished by a source in any criminal or lawful national security intelligence investigation.

Why would a FOIA be denied?

The agency you send a FOIA request to has the right to deny your request. This may happen if one or more of the nine FOIA exemptions apply to the records you wish to access. You may also be denied access to records if the agency determines that no documents are compatible with your request.

Are private companies subject to FOIA?

The FOIA does not apply to private companies; persons who receive Federal contracts or grants \18\; private organizations; or State or local governments.

Can I FOIA local governments?

No. FOIA only applies to agencies of the federal government (note this means it also does not apply to Congress or the Judicial branch). It does not allow you to get information from state or local governments. However, most state and local governments are covered by state public records laws.

Do all states have FOIA laws?

Every state has a law, modeled on the federal Freedom of Information Act, affirming the public’s right to see government documents. The federal FOIA permits “any person” to request access to agency records, including citizens and non-citizens, corporations, universities, and state and local governments.

How do I give myself a FOIA?

You can file a FOIA request on yourself using the Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act. You can write a request letter or fill out an online request form if the agency provides one. After you finish writing the letter, you should submit it to the government agency that has your records.

What is a responsive record?

Responsive records means documents or electronic records determined to be within the scope of a FOIA request.

What are records under FOIA?

FOIA covers records from all federal regulatory agencies, cabinet and military departments, offices, commissions, government-controlled corporations, the Executive Office of the President, and other organizations of the Executive Branch of the federal government.

Why would someone make a FOIA request?

A FOIA request can be used to request federal agency records for which access is currently restricted due to the presence of security-classified or other sensitive information.

How much can I charge for a FOIA request?

The FOIA permits HHS to charge fees to FOIA requesters. For noncommercial requesters, HHS may charge only for the actual cost of searching for records and the cost of making copies. Search fees usually range from about $23 to $83 per hour, depending upon the salary levels of the personnel needed for the search.

What is a vexatious request?

A request is considered vexatious, if it is likely to cause a disproportionate or unjustifiable level of distress, disruption or irritation. It is not a finding that a particular individual is vexatious and that any other request from them can automatically be refused – it is about the particular request.

What types of information can be accessed under the Freedom of Information Act NHS?

Recorded information includes printed documents, computer files, letters, emails, photographs, and sound or video recordings. The Act does not give people access to their own personal data (information about themselves) such as their health records or credit reference file.

How do I request an FBI FOIA?

Additional information about the Freedom of Information/Privacy Act is available at Should you have questions about preparing or submitting your request using this service, you may e-mail [email protected] or contact the public information officer directly at 540-868-4593.