Transparency and receiving even basic information about how the government is spending taxpayer money is critical and should be among the government’s top priorities. Unfortunately, this process is difficult and time-consuming.
While the Freedom of Information Act is supposed to give Americans a glimpse into the inner workings of Washington, D.C., the process has become more cumbersome. According to a March 2024 report released by the Government Accountability Office, the number of backlogged FOIA requests has grown from less than 100,000 in fiscal year 2013 to more than 200,000 in FY 2022. Federal agencies need to address this backlog immediately and work to communicate more consistently with the American people. Bureaucrats should not be in the business of hoarding secrets and hiding the truth from taxpayers.
FOIAs are not easy to write. There must be a specific ask and any misunderstood wording can be reason for denial or administrative purgatory. But, if worded correctly, Americans can receive specific information about the activities and communications of the federal government.
Agencies receiving FOIA requests ordinarily have 20 working days to process them. Even if an agency anticipates taking longer than that due to unusual circumstances, it must communicate that to filers and (eventually) allow filers to alter their request. However, this process breaks down when FOIA requests are simply added to a pile of unprocessed paperwork.
