Accessing Freedom of Information Act

Exemptions

Federal law allows agencies to withhold information in nine different circumstances. They are:
  • Classified information under executive order for foreign policy or national defense
  • Internal personnel practices and rules
  • Information that is exempt under other laws, such as the 1974 Privacy Act
  • Proprietary and confidential business information, such as trade secrets
  • Agency communications that is subject to legal or other privileges
  • Information that can be considered a clear unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, such as medical or personnel files
  • Certain law enforcement records that would:
            - Interfere with law enforcement proceedings
            - Deprive a person of the right to fair trial
            - Constitutes an unwarranted invasion of privacy
            - Could disclose a confidential source’s identify
            - Disclose law enforcement’s or the prosecution’s procedures that would risk circumvention of the law
            - Endanger the safety or life of a person
  • Information regarding financial institutions in regards to the agency oversight.
  • Some geological and geophysical information pertaining to oil and gas wells.
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The Freedom of Information Act
5 U.S.C. 552

My experience teaches me that, far too often, the classification stamp is used to avoid embarrassment, protect the security of foolish officials, and cover up policies which would not find wide approval if known.
- Honorable John E. Moss, U.S. House of Representatives, 1953-1978
Principal author of FOIA (Feinberg et. al, 1986, p 608)