Attorney General Holder issues new FOIA guidelines
Following on from President Obama’s declaration of openness in his first day of office, the nation’s attorney general, Eric Holder, today issued new Freedom of Information Act guidelines for federal agencies.
From the Department of Justice’s press release:
“By restoring the presumption of disclosure that is at the heart of the Freedom of Information Act, we are making a critical change that will restore the public’s ability to access information in a timely manner,” said Attorney General Holder. “The American people have the right to information about their government’s activities, and these new guidelines will ensure they are able to obtain that information under principles of openness and transparency.”
Oddly, the DoJ didn’t immediately post the memo with its press release. But I found a copy (PDF link) at the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.
Holder wrote:
I would like to emphasize that responsibility for effective FOIA administration belongs to all of us–it is not merely a task assigned to an agency’s FOIA staff. We all must do our part to ensure open government.
He also says that agencies should post information in advance of a request:
Open government requires agencies to work proactively and respond to requests promptly. The President’s memorandum instructs agencies to “use modern technology to inform citizens what is known and done by their Government.” Accordingly, agencies should readily and systematically post information online in advance of any public request. Providing more information online reduces the need for individualized requests and may help reduce existing backlogs.
–Paul
Written by Paul Monies
Follow @pmonies
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