What is Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)?

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is a federal law that gives the public the right to request access to records from government agencies. Passed in 1966, FOIA is designed to promote transparency, accountability, and trust by allowing anyone, including citizens, journalists, researchers, or organizations, to see how the federal government makes decisions, spends money, and carries out its work.

Under FOIA, people can request a wide range of documents, including reports, emails, memos, data sets, and other agency records. Federal agencies must share the information unless it falls under one of several exemptions, such as national security, personal privacy, or law enforcement investigations.

FOIA requests are commonly used to:

• Investigate government programs or spending

• Access historical or archival information

• Monitor public health, environmental, or regulatory issues

• Support journalism and watchdog reporting

While FOIA applies only to federal agencies, many states and local governments have their own open-records laws that function similarly. These state laws are sometimes called sunshine laws or public records acts.