OGIS Fiscal Year 2024 Annual Report Now Available

by Kimberlee N Ried, posted in Customer service, Government information, National Archives and Records Administration, OGIS's Reports, Ombudsman, Uncategorized

The Office of Government Information Services 2025 Report for Fiscal Year 2024 is now available on our website. Highlights include: 

  • OGIS provided timely mediation and assistance, handling 6,057 cases and closing 6,098 — with 88.5% initiated in 10 days and 98.9% resolved within 90 days. Whether coaching first-timers or navigating thorny issues with seasoned pros, OGIS ensured that help was always within reach. These cases remain a vital source of insight into system-wide FOIA pain points.
  • Through 31 blog posts and 214 X posts, OGIS continued its online presence and sparked meaningful conversations. Public comments and open meetings provided vital feedback loops, helping shape the national FOIA dialogue.
  • From AI to accessibility, OGIS convened major events like the 2024 Sunshine Week Panel, the OGIS Annual Open Meeting, the NexGen FOIA Tech Showcase and multiple CFO Council and FOIA Advisory Committee meetings — all aimed at empowering FOIA practitioners. These included robust discussions on the intersection of AI and FOIA, modernization, and public engagement —all  aimed at tackling backlogs and streamlining case processing. 
  • The FOIA Advisory Committee wrapped its fifth term with 16  recommendations targeting staffing, technology, implementation, and proactive disclosure.
  • OGIS delivered targeted training to FOIA staff across multiple agencies, expanded outreach to professional organizations, and issued an Ombuds Observer demystifying Glomar (Neither Confirm  Nor Deny or NCND) responses, helping requesters better understand when and why agencies “neither confirm nor deny” that records exist.
  • In FY 2024, OGIS reviewed 58 agency FOIA regulations and conducted 16 compliance engagements. Finally, through the Records Management Self-Assessment, to which 98% of agencies responded, OGIS reported key insights: (1) pandemic impact on FOIA backlogs continues to decline; (2) 59% of agencies reported proactively posting records on an ad-hoc basis; and (3) many FOIA websites still lack clarity and user-friendliness.

Please save the date for July 23, 2025, when OGIS will host its Open Annual Meeting in accordance with the FOIA statute which requires OGIS to report annually to Congress and the President, and to have an annual meeting on OGIS’s “review and reports.” OGIS Director Alina M. Semo will provide an overview of the services offered by the FOIA Ombuds during Fiscal Year 2024. More information about the meeting will be shared on this blog soon.