Freedom of Information Act:
Noncompliance With Affirmative Disclosure Provisions
GGD-86-68: Published: Apr 15, 1986. Publicly Released: May 22, 1986.
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In response to a congressional request, GAO evaluated federal agencies' compliance with the affirmative disclosure provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, which require that federal agencies make available certain information on their organizations, operations, and regulations.
GAO found that: (1) in 13 instances, agencies did not publish or keep current information on their central and field organizations; (2) in 6 instances, their published statements on where the public could obtain information were out of date; and (3) one agency did not publish procedural information on its system of hearings and appeals. GAO also found that: (1) one organization did not index final opinions for cases that it did not consider as precedent, although it did index the final opinions it considered as precedent; (2) in 5 instances, agencies made required materials available at locations other than those specified in the Federal Register; (3) one organization did not have all of its required materials available in its designated reading facility; (4) one organization's published rule on the availability of required material and indexes did not identify the locations where the indexes and materials were available to the public; (5) in 10 instances, agencies did not keep complete indexes of required materials or update them at least quarterly, as the statute required; and (6) two organizations did not publish their indexes or their required statements in the Federal Register to advise that publication of their indexes was considered unnecessary and impracticable, although they did maintain unpublished indexes.
Feb 11, 2021
Freedom of Information Act:
Update on Federal Agencies' Use of Exemption StatutesGAO-21-148: Published: Jan 12, 2021. Publicly Released: Feb 11, 2021.
Oct 8, 2020
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Open Data:
Agencies Need Guidance to Establish Comprehensive Data Inventories; Information on Their Progress is LimitedGAO-21-29: Published: Oct 8, 2020. Publicly Released: Oct 8, 2020.
Jul 16, 2020
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Coast Guard:
Actions Needed to Ensure Investments in Key Data System Meet Mission and User NeedsGAO-20-562: Published: Jul 16, 2020. Publicly Released: Jul 16, 2020.
Mar 30, 2020
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Information Management:
Selected Agencies Need to Fully Address Federal Electronic Recordkeeping RequirementsGAO-20-59: Published: Feb 27, 2020. Publicly Released: Mar 30, 2020.
Mar 16, 2020
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Freedom of Information Act:
Federal Agencies' Recent Implementation EffortsGAO-20-406R: Published: Mar 11, 2020. Publicly Released: Mar 16, 2020.
Dec 16, 2019
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Assessing Data Reliability (Supersedes GAO-09-680G)GAO-20-283G: Published: Dec 16, 2019. Publicly Released: Dec 16, 2019.
Oct 17, 2019
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Freedom of Information Act:
DHS Needs to Reduce Backlogged Requests and Eliminate Duplicate ProcessingGAO-20-209T: Published: Oct 17, 2019. Publicly Released: Oct 17, 2019.
Aug 10, 2018
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Paperwork Reduction Act:
Agencies Could Better Leverage Review Processes and Public Outreach to Improve Burden EstimatesGAO-18-381: Published: Jul 11, 2018. Publicly Released: Aug 10, 2018.
Jun 25, 2018
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Freedom of Information Act:
Agencies Are Implementing Requirements but Additional Actions Are NeededGAO-18-365: Published: Jun 25, 2018. Publicly Released: Jun 25, 2018.
Mar 13, 2018
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Freedom of Information Act:
Agencies Are Implementing Requirements but Need to Take Additional ActionsGAO-18-452T: Published: Mar 13, 2018. Publicly Released: Mar 13, 2018.
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