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  E-Update

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Special News: Over the past eight years, the public's access to information about the government has plummeted, with secrecy often the government's default position. President-elect Obama will have the opportunity to act quickly to restore openness and accountability in our government. Public Citizen and other organizations have written to the transition team urging the president-elect to issue a memorandum on the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) as soon as he is inaugurated. Our memo asks President-elect Obama to restore the presumption of disclosure embodied in FOIA, ensure agencies better harness technology to inform the public, and collaborate more with the public on access to information issues. The memorandum, which has been signed by more than 60 organizations, is available here.

Also, Public Citizen submitted comments to the Department of Energy opposing a proposed rule that would quadruple standard photocopying fees for FOIA requesters and eliminate consideration of the public interest in making discretionary disclosures.  Read our comments here.

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The Freedom of Information Clearinghouse is a project of Public Citizen Litigation Group, and is funded in part by a grant from the Center for the Study of Responsive Law. We provide resources for those seeking access to information held by government agencies. Our resources fall into two broad categories:

How to File a FOIA Request: A Guide

Search our Agency Database for agency-by-agency information

Read about Requesting Records from State Governments

Resources for Legal Reasearch on FOIA

Get the statutory text of FOIA

Learn about PCLG's open government litigation

Listen In! Staff Attorney Adina Rosenbaum talks about why FOIA is vital to our democracy (mp3)

Clearinghouse Legal Assistance Request: If you are requesting assistance as an individual, media member, or on behalf of a for-profit organization, please direct your request, in writing,to the Clearinghouse:

Freedom of Information Clearinghouse
Public Citizen Litigation Group
1600 20th Street NW
Washington, DC 20009

If you are requesting assistance on behalf of a non-profit organization, please direct your request through the Public Interest FOIA Clinic.

Because Public Citizen does not accept funds from corporations, professional associations or government agencies, we can remain independent and follow the truth wherever it may lead. But that means we depend on the generosity of concerned citizens like you for the resources to fight on behalf of the public interest. If you would like to help us in our fight, click here.