Getting to Know the FOIA Advisory Committee: Kevin Bell

Today we present an interview with Kevin Bell, attorney-advisor at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and a member of the 2024-2026 FOIA Advisory Committee. This is part of a series of posts on the Committee, whose members are FOIA experts from inside and outside of government and who are appointed by the Archivist of the … Continue reading Getting to Know the FOIA Advisory Committee: Kevin Bell

OGIS Publishes Two New Ombuds Observers

Fernando Penalosa and Maria Teresa Inigo at the busy circulation desk. Through the open doors in back of the patrons at the desk is the entrance to the Main Reading Room. The reference desk is to its immediate right. National Archive Identifier 23932427 Today’s blog post was guest written by Dan Levenson. The Office of … Continue reading OGIS Publishes Two New Ombuds Observers

Getting to Know the FOIA Advisory Committee: Richard Peltz-Steele

Today we present an interview with Richard Peltz-Steele, Professor of Law at the University of Massachusetts School of Law and a member of the 2024-2026 FOIA Advisory Committee. This is part of a series of posts on the Committee, whose members are FOIA experts from inside and outside of government and who are appointed by the … Continue reading Getting to Know the FOIA Advisory Committee: Richard Peltz-Steele

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!

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

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!

OGIS to Host Annual Open Meeting on July 24

Please join OGIS as we host our Annual Open Meeting from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday, July 24. We will hear from OGIS Director Alina M. Semo about OGIS’s annual report. In addition, two members of the 2022-2024 FOIA Advisory Committee, Jason R. Baron of the University of Maryland and Patricia Weth of the Pension Benefit Guaranty … Continue reading OGIS to Host Annual Open Meeting on July 24