FOIA ‘E-Delinquents’ Include DOL, ICE
The National Security Archive at George Washington University has released a new report finding that, 10 years after passage of the Electronic Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Amendments, several federal agencies fall short of the law. The Department of Labor was cited for having no central reading room and no required documents available, and a lack of FOIA Web sites for several components (ETA and EBSA). Immigration and Customs Enforcement had no dedicated FOIA page, very limited guidance, and no required documents.
Meredith Fuchs, the Archive’s general counsel, said, “Public access on the Web to government information is the only long-term solution to the backlogs and delays that undermine the FOIA today. This audit plus Congressional oversight should provide a wake-up call to the agencies.” Ms. Fuchs testified on March 14, 2007, before the Senate Judiciary Committee in support of a new FOIA reform bill. Her testimony is available here.
