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

Nominations Open for 2024-2026 FOIA Advisory Committee

America Calling. Office for Emergency Management. Office of War Information. Domestic Operations Branch. Bureau of Special Services. 3/9/1943-9/15/1945. National Archives Identifier 513794 Interested in tackling FOIA’s toughest challenges through collaboration with other requesters and FOIA professionals? Please consider submitting a nomination for yourself or someone else for the 2024-2026 term of the federal FOIA Advisory Committee.  The … Continue reading Nominations Open for 2024-2026 FOIA Advisory Committee

Plan to Attend Final FOIA Advisory Committee Meeting of the Fifth Term

https://giphy.com/gifs/usnationalarchives-times-square-ve-day-war-ends-in-europe-l0HlRincOBSIi5oxG New York City Celebration GIF by US National Archives via GIPHY. From National Archives Identifier 38905. The last meeting of the 2022-2024 term of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Advisory Committee is on Thursday, June 13, 2024, beginning at 10 a.m. ET. The Committee expects to review and approve its final report which … Continue reading Plan to Attend Final FOIA Advisory Committee Meeting of the Fifth Term

FOIA Advisory Committee Meets May 9

https://giphy.com/gifs/usnationalarchives-census-bureau-1950-hr3jrCaK5rxc9qKzvc Vintage Throwback GIF by US National Archives via GIPHY. From National Archives Identifier 208383217. The penultimate meeting of the 2022-2024 term of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Advisory Committee is on Thursday, May 9, 2024, beginning at 10 a.m. ET. The Committee expects to deliberate and vote on several recommendations from the Implementation … Continue reading FOIA Advisory Committee Meets May 9

OGIS Thanks Volunteers During National Volunteer Week

Thanks Brass Family, National Archives Identifier 165318036. This week, April 21-27, is National Volunteer Week. Established in 1974, National Volunteer Week is an opportunity to highlight the volunteers who work to transform society and the world. Today we recognize the volunteers who make up two groups that strive to improve the federal FOIA process: the … Continue reading OGIS Thanks Volunteers During National Volunteer Week

OGIS Publishes Ombuds Observer on NCND/Glomar

Photograph of Howard Hughes, who played a pivotal role in the very first Neither Confirm Nor Deny (NCND) response. National Archives Identifier 219777077. OGIS has recently published a new resource for Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requesters whose records requests are met with ‘neither confirm nor deny’ (NCND) responses, historically known in the U.S. as … Continue reading OGIS Publishes Ombuds Observer on NCND/Glomar

Join OGIS for April Meetings

National Archives Outdoors: Flowers blooming outside the National Archives. National Archives Identifier 286212967 Mark your calendars for two upcoming OGIS events! The next meeting of the 2022-2024 term of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Advisory Committee is on Thursday, April 4, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. ET. The Committee will discuss and vote … Continue reading Join OGIS for April Meetings

Sunshine Week: It’s a Wrap!

National Archives Sunshine Week program panelists (left to right) Gulam Shakir, NARA; Bobak Talebian, Dept. of Justice; Eric Stein, Dept. of State; Pam Wright, NARA; and Abby Potter, Library of Congress discussing the intersection of artificial intelligence, FOIA and public access on Thursday, March 14. National Archives Photo by Susana Raab. Another Sunshine Week is … Continue reading Sunshine Week: It’s a Wrap!