Freedom of Information Act : agencies are making progress in reducing backlog, but additional guidance is needed : report to the Chairman, Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census, and National Archives, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, House of Representatives.

Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), federal agencies must generally provide access to their information, enabling the public to learn about government operations and decisions. To help ensure proper implementation, the act requires that agencies report annually to the Attorney General on th...

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Bibliographic Details
Corporate Authors:	United States. Government Accountability Office, United States. Congress. House. Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census, and National Archives
Format:	Government Document eBook
Language:	English
Published:	[Washington, D.C.] : U.S. Govt. Accountability Office, [2008]
Subjects:	United States. > Freedom of Information Act. Freedom of information > Government policy > United States. Administrative agencies > United States > Rules and practice.
Online Access:	http://www.gao.gov/docsearch/abstract.php?rptno=GAO-08-344 https://purl.fdlp.gov/GPO/LPS93031

Description
Summary:	Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), federal agencies must generally provide access to their information, enabling the public to learn about government operations and decisions. To help ensure proper implementation, the act requires that agencies report annually to the Attorney General on their processing of FOIA requests. For fiscal year 2006, agencies were also to report on their progress in implementing plans to improve FOIA operations, as directed by a December 2005 Executive Order. A major goal of the order was reducing backlogs of overdue FOIA requests (the statute requires an agency to respond to requests within 20 or, in some cases, 30 working days with a determination on whether it will provide records). For this study, GAO was asked, among other things, to determine trends in FOIA processing and agencies' progress in addressing backlogs of overdue FOIA requests since implementing their improvement plans. To do so, GAO analyzed 21 agencies' annual reports and additional statistics.
Item Description:	Title from title screen (viewed on Apr. 15, 2008). "March 2008." Paper version available from: U.S. Govt. Accountability Office, 441 G St., NW, Rm. LM, Washington, D.C. 20548. "GAO-08-344." Electronic resource.
Physical Description:	iii, 87 pages : digital, PDF file.
Format:	Mode of access: Internet from GAO web site. Address as of 4/15/08: http://www.gao.gov/docsearch/abstract.php?rptno=GAO-08-344 ; current access available via PURL.
Bibliography:	Includes bibliographical references.