Government Resources on Freedom of Information: Home
Links for various government or government-related agencies about freedom of information. This online resource guide is created by Kelley Center for Government Information as part of Fondren Library's FDLP service.
Background Information
- FOIA.govProvides background and data about the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and requests.
- How to file a Freedom of Information Act RequestGraphic from the Logikcull Blog showing step-by-step how to file a FOIA request, but see the Department of Justice links below for the official version.
See also the Department of Justice tab below for additional guides to filing a FOIA request.
- FOIA LibraryCollection of documents made available to the public without a FOAI request
- Office of Information PolicyThe mission of the Office of Information Policy (OIP) is to encourage and oversee agency compliance with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
Freedom of Information Act
Video by U.S. Department of Justice.
Anna Xiong
Government Agencies
- Principal FOIA Contacts at Federal AgenciesDepartment of Justice site containing a list of FOIA contacts in all federal agencies by agency name.
- The Presidential Records Act of 1978"The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) applies to the Presidential Records Act (PRA) five years after the President has left office. NARA uses this time to begin to conduct archival processing and otherwise prepare for the onset of public access." Visit the website to learn more.
Freedom of Information - Texas
- Public Information HandbookOnline handbook from the Attorney General of Texas to help Texans understand the provisions of the Texas Public Information Act.
- Public Information Act, Texas Government Code Chapter 552Texas State Library page explaining and linking to The Public Information Act, Texas Government Code Chapter 552.
Department of Justice
- Court Decisions OverviewSummaries of FOIA court decisions addressing all aspects of the law.
- Department of Justice Freedom of Information Act Reference GuideProvides guidance for making FOIA requests to the Department of Justice.
- Department of Justice FOIA RegulationsLinks to the rules that detail the DOJ's procedures for implementing the FOIA.
- Department of Justice Guide to the Freedom of Information ActThe United States Department of Justice Guide to the Freedom of Information Act is a comprehensive legal treatise on the FOIA. The Guide includes detailed discussions of the FOIA’s procedural requirements, nine exemptions, and litigation considerations. Each section contains a detailed analysis of the key judicial opinions issued on the FOIA.
- Submit and Track (a FOIA) Request or AppealOfficial portal for submitting a Freedom of Information Act Request for Department of Justice records on any give topic or a Privacy Act Request for Department of Justice records concerning yourself.
Declassified Documents
- U.S. Declassified Documents Online This link opens in a new windowThese U.S. government documents are from presidential libraries, CIA, FBI and other agencies spanning the 20th and 21st century (Gale). Fondren Library owns access to the 2017 through 2023 online annual supplements.
- National Security ArchiveGeorge Washington University's Gelman Library archive of declassified documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act.
Non-Government Sources
- Freedom of Information ClearinghouseIncludes guides to obtaining information pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, links to FOIA resources including from individual agencies, and FOIA news items.
- governmentattic.orgRummage in the government's attic to find thousands of Federal Government historical, news, and blooper documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act. Find documents listed under two sections, FOIA Logs or Documents, or use the search box.
- Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC)A site that serves as a source for comprehensive, independent and nonpartisan information about federal enforcement, staffing and spending. Covers agencies such as the DEA, ATF, IRS, and FBI and immigration, judges, and FOIA requests.
Public Records Letter Generator
Guides to Finding FOAI Documents
- A Guide to Accessing Public Records for the First Timefrom Syracuse University
The Art of Access: Strategies for Acquiring Public Records by Call Number: PN4781 .C95 2020 and two OnlineISBN: 9781506380704Publication Date: 2019-08-22Gaining access to records is an art, one that requires an organized approach and a good understanding of human behavior. The Art of Access: Strategies for Acquiring Public Records, Second Edition is a how-to guide for putting the law into action and using ingenuity to pry records loose. FOI experts and longtime journalists David Cuillier and Charles N. Davis present strategies for dealing with the officials who stand between you and the information you seek. They explore new developments in technology and research and the latest online innovations and tools to help you rethink the information-gathering process and develop a document state of mind.
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