The Freedom of Information Act, or “FOIA,” is the federal government’s promise that public records made in the conduct of public business are just that: public. It requires that any federal agency fully or partially disclose information and documents controlled by the United States government upon request. PEER uses FOIA to obtain records that we believe contain evidence of wrongdoing by government agencies against the environment, protect public employees whose careers are in jeopardy or might be if they leaked documents to us directly, and to disinfect corrupt behavior with sunlight. PEER has a long history of litigating against the government, assisting environmental allies, and exposing secret crimes against nature through FOIA, with dozens of successful cases against almost every agency in the federal government. We post materials obtained through FOIA on our website and share them with the press to make sure that the public sees all of the records that belong to it.
Each federal agency has its own records management system developed subject to the oversight of the National Archivist under the standards of the National Archives and Records Administration Act. The unlawful removal or destruction of federal records is a crime punishable by criminal or civil penalties, fines and/or imprisonment. (18 U.S.C. 2071)
All 50 states also have public information laws, which PEER tracks and you can learn more about at [link]. If you have questions about how you can use FOIA to obtain public records you can learn more at foia.wiki and if you have a sensitive environmental matter which you think PEER should be aware of you can speak to one of our attorneys.
Citation: The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. § 552, is a federal freedom of information law.
NEWS FROM PEER
BLOG | Supreme Court FOIA Decision and Official Candor
The recent Supreme Court decision makes government less transparent by shielding scientific conclusions from disclosure unless they are finally adopted by agency decision-makers.
...BLOG | The Dumpster Fire Presidency in Review
The Trump Administration went out of its way to violate “good government” laws and norms. Here's a list of their worst "Dirty Dozen" abuses.
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Letter Protests the District’s Bad Process for Bad Legislation
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2018 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey Altered to Restrict “Leadership” Definition
...Suit to Penetrate Political Screening of Interior Grants
Inspector General Decries “Weak or Non-Existent Controls” on Grants and Aid
...Pruitt Had No Climate Data, EPA Admits
EPA Asking Its Climate Experts if They Know of Any Alternative Science
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Even When Sued Agencies Deploy Stalling Tactics That Consume Years
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EPA Must Look for Any Scientific Study Supporting Pruitt’s Doubts on Human Role
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Unseen 2015 Analytic All-Hazard Assessment Designed to Inform Planners & Public
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From: Government Information Watch
“Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility is suing the Office of Management and Budget for the submissions made by the public in response to an executive order signed...
WHITE HOUSE SUED OVER ‘CLOAKED’ AGENCY REORGANIZATION PROPOSALS
From: Government Executive
“Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility is suing the Office of Management and Budget for the submissions made by the public in response to an executive order signed by...
The Public’s Reform Suggestions to OMB Remain Cloaked
OMB Claimed “100,000+” Submissions but Won’t Say What They Recommend
...Pruitt Refuses to Reveal His Climate Science
His Lawyers Call Lawsuit for Studies Discounting Human Role “a Trap”
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Pruitt Should Put Up Evidence Supporting Stance or Cease Climate Denials
...Ruling Vastly Expands Official Secrecy on Infrastructure
Troves of Public Safety Information Cloaked by FOIA Law Enforcement Exemption
...The Myth of Transparency in the Obama Era
Agencies Continue to Cling to Internal Files Even in the Face of Litigation
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