The bipartisan leaders of the House and Senate government oversight committees have tasked GAO with reviewing agency compliance with the Freedom of Information Act, following complaints from those requesting information.
Said the letter to GAO: “Requesters repeatedly report to Congress the problems they have encountered with the FOIA process. These problems include indefinite delays, excessive redactions, and other unnecessary barriers to accessing information.”
The letter cited a news organization’s finding that in 2015, 77 percent of requesters received either censored files or nothing at all. “During the same period, the number of FOIA lawsuits filed in federal court reached an all-time high. These are troubling statistics that warrant further investigation into how, and the extent to which, the federal government responds to FOIA requests,” it said.
GAO is to report on audits of agency compliance with the law, the methods agencies use to address backlogs and their effectiveness; instances in which a court found that agency personnel acted arbitrarily or capriciously and any disciplinary actions taken against them; whether stronger enforcement tools are needed; and related issues.
Both the House and Senate have passed FOIA reform bills (HR-653 and S-337), which are similar in some ways but different in others.
