OGIS Celebrates Ombuds Day!

President Richard Nixon Shaking Hands with Chairman Mao Tse-tung. National Archives Identifier 194759 Today is Ombuds Day and we at the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) celebrate our role as the federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Ombuds. The OPEN Government Act of 2007 established OGIS and elevated the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution … Continue reading OGIS Celebrates Ombuds Day!

OGIS Publishes Annual Compliance Report

Here is a condensed version of the 1950 Census tabulation picture. In the foreground is a punch card machine. Holes are punched in the card according to a prearranged code, transferring the facts from the questionnaire into statistics. The man operating the machine labeled “140” is running a sorter. This machine sorts cards into any … Continue reading OGIS Publishes Annual Compliance Report

OGIS Remains Interested in “Still Interested” Letters

Mail, Photographs Relating to Agency Officials, Events, and Activities. National Archives Identifier 209296403 As the federal government approaches the end of fiscal year 2024 in September, we recognize that many federal agencies are aiming to close old FOIA requests and reduce their FOIA backlogs. Some are sending requesters “still interested” letters to ensure that the … Continue reading OGIS Remains Interested in “Still Interested” Letters

2024-2026 FOIA Advisory Committee is Off and Running with Three Subcommittees

A colorful sea of in-line skaters blankets the North Shore Scenic Drive in this photo of the North Shore In-Line Marathon. National Archives Identifier 7720689. The 2024-2026 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Advisory Committee met on Friday, September 13, and organized themselves into three subcommittees. Each subcommittee is led by two co-chairs, one a government … Continue reading 2024-2026 FOIA Advisory Committee is Off and Running with Three Subcommittees

First Meeting of the 2024-2026 FOIA Advisory Committee Recap

The 2024-2026 FOIA Advisory Committee members meet on stage on Monday, September 9, 2024, in the McGowan Theater in the National Archives building. The 2024-2026 term of the FOIA Advisory Committee met on Monday, September 9 at the National Archives in Washington, DC,  to launch the Committee’s sixth term. It was the first in-person meeting … Continue reading First Meeting of the 2024-2026 FOIA Advisory Committee Recap

FOIA Advisory Committee Meets on Friday, September 13

WAC Sgt. Molly Thavenet, 6 Moss Street, Westerly, R.I., now serving in Italy as a Staff secretary with the 15th Air Force, puts the torch of her cigarette lighter to the last page on her desk calendar, thus closing out a most memorable year. National Archives Identifier 204911363 Mark your calendar for Friday, September 13, … Continue reading FOIA Advisory Committee Meets on Friday, September 13

Join Us for the Inaugural Meeting of the 2024-2026 FOIA Advisory Committee

"Join us on the Farm Front" National Archives Identifier 514751 The 2024-2026 term of the FOIA Advisory Committee will gather in person for the first meeting of the sixth term on Monday, September 9, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET in the William G. McGowan Theater at the National Archives Building in Washington, DC. … Continue reading Join Us for the Inaugural Meeting of the 2024-2026 FOIA Advisory Committee

2024-2026 FOIA Advisory Committee Members Appointed

A member of the Royal Thai Armed Forces Band plays the trumpet during the Opening Ceremony for Exercise COBRA GOLD 2000 at Vajira Military Camp, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand. National Archive Identifier 6602132. Archivist of the United States Dr. Colleen Shogan appointed 20 individuals to the National Archives and Records Administration’s 2024–2026 Freedom of Information … Continue reading 2024-2026 FOIA Advisory Committee Members Appointed

OGIS Public Engagement Spans the Globe

The summer of 2024 has been busy for OGIS staff as we traveled to several conferences to share and present information about the work of the FOIA Ombuds office. Below is a brief recap. In June, OGIS staff traveled to the American Society of Access Professionals (ASAP) conference in Anaheim, CA, to teach two sessions … Continue reading OGIS Public Engagement Spans the Globe

2024-2026 FOIA Advisory Committee Nominations Due by Monday, July 15!

Time is running out for nominations to the 2024-2026 FOIA Advisory Committee. The Committee studies the FOIA landscape across the executive branch and advises the Archivist of the United States on improvements to FOIA administration. We seek a wide range of FOIA experts from both inside and outside of government. Details about nominating yourself or someone else … Continue reading 2024-2026 FOIA Advisory Committee Nominations Due by Monday, July 15!