Getting to Know the FOIA Advisory Committee: Shelley Kimball

Today we present an interview with Shelley Kimball, Associate Communication Program Director and Senior Lecturer at Johns Hopkins University 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: Shelley Kimball

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

FOIA Advisory Committee Meets on December 5

Roundtable discussion at the Congressional Black Caucus Delegation Educational Forum and Convention. National Archives Identifier 355307440 The next meeting of the 2024-2026 term of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Advisory Committee is on Thursday, December 5, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET.  The Committee will hear the mission statements and updates from … Continue reading FOIA Advisory Committee Meets on December 5

Getting to Know the 2024-2026 FOIA Advisory Committee Members

Photograph of Welcome Wagon Service. National Archives Identifier 202802859 During the 2020-2022 and 2022-2024 terms of the FOIA Advisory Committee, we profiled most of the members on this blog by asking them a few questions about their FOIA experience and what they hoped to accomplish on the Committee. Several returning members were previously profiled including David Cuillier, who … Continue reading Getting to Know the 2024-2026 FOIA Advisory Committee Members

Register Today for November 7 Chief FOIA Officers Council Meeting

As part of a brainstorming activity. members of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Committee are asked to share what they would like in a FOIA policy during the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) advisory committee meeting at the National Archives in Washington. DC. on July 21. 2016. NARA photo by Brogan Jackson. National Archives … Continue reading Register Today for November 7 Chief FOIA Officers Council Meeting

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