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Freedom of Information Act: Update on Federal Agencies' Use of Exemption Statutes

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Report Type Reports and Testimonies
Report Date Jan. 12, 2021
Release Date Feb. 11, 2021
Report No. GAO-21-148
Summary:

Based on the principles of openness and accountability in government, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requires federal agencies to provide the public access to government records and information. The act also specifies exemptions, e.g., information can be withheld for national security or personal privacy concerns.

Agencies can also cite other federal laws to exempt certain information from release. Use of these exemptions more than doubled from FY2012 to FY2019, even as the number of FOIA requests processed only increased by about 32%. A federal law that makes U.S. visa issuance records confidential was the most commonly cited law.

Glasses, forms, and a FOIA booklet

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