OGIS 2023 Holiday Wish List

https://giphy.com/gifs/usnationalarchives-vintage-christmas-3oz8xJVpGNtM2g8Mhy Santa Claus Christmas by US National Archives via GIPHY. From National Archives Identifier 93140. Last year we shared our OGIS Holiday Wish List here on The FOIA Ombudsman. The jolly man from the North Pole did not bring us our wishes, so we are revising it to reflect upon what OGIS has encountered over … Continue reading OGIS 2023 Holiday Wish List

OGIS at the Council on Government Ethics Laws Conference

Last week staff from OGIS attended and presented two sessions at the annual Council on Government Ethics Laws (COGEL) conference, held in Kansas City, MO. Our presentations included a panel on best practices regarding FOIA compliance – OGIS staff highlighted the value of training FOIA professionals to understand the FOIA itself as well as the … Continue reading OGIS at the Council on Government Ethics Laws Conference

Chief FOIA Officers Meeting Recap

https://giphy.com/gifs/usnationalarchives-vintage-throwback-3oz8xYn9tp0AbewbhS Welding World War II by US National Archives via GIPHY. From National Archives Identifier 535579. The Chief FOIA Officers Council (CFOC) met on November 9 to discuss a variety of topics of interest to Chief FOIA Officers and FOIA professionals. Deputy Archivist of the United States, Debra Steidel Wall, and Associate Attorney General of the … Continue reading Chief FOIA Officers Meeting Recap

Workshop on Using, Sharing Resources Set for October 25

https://giphy.com/gifs/usnationalarchives-archives-archivesgif-naid12065-896NyHxKgOwc8UoIar  Your National Archives by US National Archives via GIPHY. From National Archives Identifier 12065. Federal government employees are invited to a Chief FOIA Officers (CFO) Council best practices workshop from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 25. The Council’s Committee on Cross-Agency Collaboration and Innovation (COCACI) Resources Working Group is hosting  the … Continue reading Workshop on Using, Sharing Resources Set for October 25

Ombuds Day is Thursday, October 12

Thursday, October 12 is officially recognized by the Dispute Resolution Section of the American Bar Association (ABA) as Ombuds Day. This annual observation provides an opportunity to educate the public about the role of ombuds and the wide variety of services and value that ombuds provide.  As the federal FOIA Ombudsman, OGIS resolves FOIA disputes, … Continue reading Ombuds Day is Thursday, October 12

OGIS Publishes Updated Immigration Observer

The President's Committee For Hungarian Refugees, Prospectus for Kilmer Operation. National Archives Identifier 24443. A popular resource for using FOIA to access immigration records across the federal government has been updated with the publication of an updated Immigration Ombuds Observer on our website. This document supersedes our 2018 Immigration Observer, now archived. The webpage serves … Continue reading OGIS Publishes Updated Immigration Observer

Chief FOIA Officers Council Co-Chairs Issue Memo on FOIA.gov Interoperability Deadline, FOIAonline Sunset

https://giphy.com/gifs/usnationalarchives-vintage-mail-postal-worker-QyLeEG8FwmCrdTJGIV Sorting World War II GIF by US National Archives via GIPHY. From National Archives Identifier 17800. The co-chairs of the Chief FOIA Officers Council issued a memo recently on FOIA.gov interoperability and the sunsetting of FOIAonline.  The purpose of the memo, sent to Chief FOIA Officers (CFOs) and available online, is three-fold:  to remind … Continue reading Chief FOIA Officers Council Co-Chairs Issue Memo on FOIA.gov Interoperability Deadline, FOIAonline Sunset

OGIS Publishes 2022 Compliance Self-Assessment

https://giphy.com/gifs/usnationalarchives-archives-archivesgif-naid12065-S0Ik9zGLLJMN3oDfzA Paper Records GIF by US National Archives via GIPHY. From National Archives Identifier 12065. The Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) is pleased to announce the publication of our latest report, “Assessing Freedom of Information Act Compliance through the National Archives and Records Administration’s 2022 Records Management Self-Assessment.” The 2022 Records Management Self-Assessment (RMSA), … Continue reading OGIS Publishes 2022 Compliance Self-Assessment

OGIS Fiscal Year 2022 Annual Report Now Available

The Office of Government Information Services 2023 Report for Fiscal Year 2022 is now available on our website. Highlights include:  Handling over 4,500 requests for assistance — from both FOIA requesters and agencies. Providing a new virtual training program on negotiation for FOIA professionals. Leading and collaborating with the Chief FOIA Officers Council Technology Committee … Continue reading OGIS Fiscal Year 2022 Annual Report Now Available

Ensuring Effective Portal Communication with Requesters: Even When They’re on Vacation!

Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter fishing on August 26, 1978. National Archives Identifier 180949. OGIS has observed recently that agencies are increasingly using portals to send response letters and records to requesters. OGIS applauds this approach as portals are faster than U.S. postal mail and more secure than email. However, OGIS encourages agencies to consider … Continue reading Ensuring Effective Portal Communication with Requesters: Even When They’re on Vacation!