Tag Archive: Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

6 Ways to Free the Freedom of Information Act

by Briana Williams

Jan 19, 2018 12:28 pm

David Ferriero, Archivist of the United States, invites the public to visit the National Archives during Sunshine Week on March 12, 2018. https://foia.blogs.archives.gov/2018/01/10/mark-your-calendars-for-sunshine-week-2018-at-the-national-archives/

In its first meeting of 2018, the federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Advisory Committee unanimously voted to approve a series of recommendations. If implemented, they would improve transparency, accountability and efficiency in administering the nation's preeminent public records law at federal government agencies. Bonus news: a new FOIA.gov is coming soon.

How federal agencies are quietly removing government Web resources, and why it matters

by Toly Rinberg and Andrew Bergman

Nov 15, 2017 11:41 am

Under the Trump administration, federal agencies have been removing important Web resources without proactive notice or justification. We should hold our government accountable to clearly explain its actions and not remove Web content when there’s no good reason for doing so.

It’s time for the Justice Department to finalize and release its new FOIA policy

by Sunlight Foundation

policy

Oct 31, 2017 4:13 pm

As a result, this morning, the Sunlight Foundation, Cause of Action Institute, and our open government allies wrote a letter asking The United States Department of Justice and the The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to finalize and publish a new Freedom of Information Act policy that makes "release-to-one, release-to-all" the official stance of the United States government.

18F makes recommendations to Justice Department for new national FOIA website

by Alex Howard

Sep 1, 2017 3:54 pm

Screenshot from the status page prototype shown to requesters after submission. Credit: 18F

We applaud 18F for their work to date and look forward to seeing beta.foia.gov live, but the FOIA project is far from over. What happens next will depend in part on funding and political will.

How federal agencies and Congress pass laws to deny individual FOIA requests

by Guest Blogger

policy

Jan 25, 2017 9:33 am

A judge can force a federal agency to comply with a Freedom of Information Act request. But, while the FOIA is pending, the agency can ask Congress to pass a law allowing it to withhold the requested information.

A “release to one, release to all” policy for FOIA will serve the public interest

by Alex Howard

policy

Dec 23, 2016 3:36 pm

Today, the Sunlight Foundation commented on a “release to one, release to all” policy for the Freedom of Information Act... View Article

Analyzing the state of open data in 2016

by Alex Howard

policy

Nov 14, 2016 3:40 pm

A new report sheds light on the state of open data in the United States.

Our conversation with Wired Italia: Evaluating open government with a broad lens matters

by Alex Howard

policy

Nov 10, 2016 2:52 pm

Wired Italia asked Sunlight for answers on a series of questions about open government. Here are our answers.

Connecting freedom of information to open data: How to build a better FOIA.gov

by Alex Howard

policy

Nov 2, 2016 4:06 pm

The next White House will have an extraordinary opportunity to close the gap between open data and FOIA when it deploys a new portal in 2017. Here's what will make the next FOIA.gov more effective and useful for the American people.

Open government initiative from D.C. mayor, not so open

by LaVita Tuff

policy

Sep 12, 2016 2:59 pm

In an ironic twist, Sunlight had to file a FOIA request in order to receive a copy of a mayoral order on open government.