6.2: Freedom of Information Act

Provide services to mediate disputes between Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requesters and Federal agencies, review policies and procedures of administrative agencies under FOIA, review agency compliance with FOIA, and recommend policy changes to the Congress and President to improve the administration of FOIA

Other Information:

(http://www.archives.gov/ogis) - The Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) began operations at the National Archives in September 2009, and its mission is to provide services to mediate disputes between Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requesters and Federal agencies, to review policies and procedures of administrative agencies under FOIA, to review agency compliance with FOIA, and to recommend policy changes to the Congress and President to improve the administration of FOIA. Soon after the Open Government Directive was published, the Office of Government Information Services posted Questions and Answers on the FOIA aspects of the Open Government Directive, which can be found at http://www.archives.gov/ogis/open-gov-directive-qa.pdf. As an extension of the Open Government Directive, the Office of Government Information Services is partnering with other Federal agencies to investigate the possibility of developing a FOIA Dashboard. This interagency effort would provide cross-agency data on FOIA performance that has not been previously standardized or available in an aggregate form. It would begin with several agencies, including NARA, the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services, and the Environmental Protection Agency. These agencies will work with open government advocates who have expressed an interest in, and could contribute expertise to, such an initiative. Additionally, the Office of Government Information Services, as the FOIA ombudsman, will explore other strategies for making information about the FOIA process available to the public and across the Federal government. Giving the public access to this information will focus on "government as platform" approaches, including access to raw datasets and providing a forum for the public's participation on relevant issues. Through its mediation program the Office of Government Information Services will directly contribute to encouraging public participation and collaboration. In this connection OGIS is beginning to offer targeted training in dispute resolution skills for FOIA Public Liaisons, who are the "face" of the Federal Government's FOIA offices for the public.

Stakeholder(s):

• Office of Government Information Services


• Congress


• The President


• FOIA Public Liaisons

Indicator(s):

Indicator:1

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