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Freedom of Information Act requests in the United States

The Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) gives any person the right to request records from federal agencies. FOIA.gov, run by the Department of Justice's Office of Information Policy (OIP), is the central portal for finding agency FOIA offices and submitting requests, and the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) at the National Archives offers mediation. FOIA does not cover Congress, the federal courts or state governments, which have their own laws.

Release calendar

What it publishes

• FOIA.gov: a request portal, agency contact list and annual FOIA report data for each agency.
• DOJ OIP: guidance, the Department of Justice Guide to the FOIA and agency compliance reports.
• OGIS: mediation services and reviews of agency FOIA programs.
• The text of the law at 5 U.S.C. 552 on GovInfo.

Key datasets

• FOIA.gov
  Search agencies, submit requests and view annual FOIA report data.
  Updated: Continuous; reports annual
• FOIA.gov frequently asked questions
  Fees, appeals and how requests are processed.
  Updated: As updated
• 5 U.S.C. 552 (GovInfo)
  Full text of the Freedom of Information Act.
  Updated: As amended
• DOJ Office of Information Policy
  Guidance and the DOJ Guide to the FOIA.
  Updated: As updated
• Office of Government Information Services
  FOIA ombudsman and mediation.
  Updated: Continuous

APIs and downloads

• FOIA.gov
  Annual FOIA report data by agency can be downloaded from the reports section.

When it publishes

Agencies submit annual FOIA reports for each fiscal year, which are published on FOIA.gov. Under 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(6)(A), an agency must decide whether to comply with a request within 20 working days, with extensions in unusual circumstances.

How to use it to check a claim

1. Send the request to the agency that holds the records; FOIA.gov lists each agency's FOIA office.
2. Describe the records precisely and say how much you are willing to pay in fees.
3. If you are denied, file an administrative appeal with the agency, then consider OGIS mediation or court.

Common mistakes

• FOIA covers federal executive agencies only, not Congress, the courts or states.
• Nine exemptions allow agencies to withhold some information, and responses can take much longer than 20 working days at busy agencies.

How much does a FOIA request cost?

FOIA.gov says there is no initial fee to submit a request, but agencies can charge some fees for search, review and copying depending on the requester category.

How long does an agency have to respond?

5 U.S.C. 552 gives agencies 20 working days to decide whether to comply, extendable in unusual circumstances.

Questions answered using this source

• How many members of Congress are there?

Links checked 14 October 2026. This page describes what the source publishes and gives no verdict on any claim.