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alt="National Archives Logo" /> </p> <div class="region region-content"> <section id="block-system-main" class="block block-system clearfix"> <h1>Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)</h1> <p>The <a href="/about/laws/foia.html">Freedom of Information Act</a> (FOIA) gives any person the right to request access to records of the executive branch of the U.S. Government. Federal agencies are required to disclose any information requested under the FOIA unless it falls under one of <a href="/foia/foia-guide#determine">nine exemptions</a>.</p> <h2>How to Make a FOIA Request</h2> <h3>Select Record Type: Archival or Operational</h3> <p>The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) processes Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests for two distinct types of records: <strong>archival</strong> and <strong>operational</strong>. There are a few ways to make FOIA requests for archival and operational records — it starts with selecting the right type of record.</p> <p> </p> <div class="nwidget nlayout ncolumns row " data-columns="3x1_3"> <div class="col-sm-4"> <div class="nwidget ncallout clearfix highlighted width100 " data-additional-classes="" data-alignment="" data-style="highlighted" data-version="1" data-width="100"> <h3>Archival Records...</h3> <p>are records created by executive branch agencies and the White House that have been transferred into the legal custody of the National Archives.</p> <ul> <li>FOIA does not apply to records of Congress and the Supreme Court, archival records created by Legislative and Judicial branches, or to records of Presidents before the Reagan Administration. (Post-Reagan records are subject to the <a href="/presidential-libraries/laws/1978-act.html">Presidential Records Act of 1978</a>.)</li> <li>Archival records are located at our <a href="/locations">archival facilities</a> in the Washington, DC, area and around the country, as well as at our <a href="/presidential-libraries">Presidential Libraries</a>.</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p><a class="nwidget nbutton btn btn-lg btn-primary " data-additional_classes="" data-link="https://www.archives.gov/foia/foia-guide#how" data-size="btn-lg" data-style="btn-primary" data-title="<strong>Learn how to file your Archival FOIA request" data-version="1" href="https://www.archives.gov/foia/foia-guide#how"><strong>Learn how to file your Archival FOIA request</strong></a></p> <hr /> <p>Learn more about requesting highly sensitive historical records subject to FOIA: <strong><a class="moreLink" href="/research/foia">Special Access and FOIA Program</a></strong></p> </div> </div> <div class="col-sm-4"> <div class="nwidget ncallout clearfix highlighted width100 " data-additional-classes="" data-alignment="" data-style="highlighted" data-version="1" data-width="100"> <h3>Operational Records...</h3> <p>are records created by NARA and its employees in the process of carrying out its mission and responsibilities.</p> <ul> <li>These records include contracts, agency policies, employee directories, and other types of policy, administrative, and personnel records.</li> <li>These requests are processed by NARA's Office of General Counsel.<br />  </li> </ul> <p><strong>Submitting FOIA requests via FOIAonline ended September 30, 2022.</strong><br />  </p> <p><a class="nwidget nbutton btn btn-lg btn-primary " data-additional_classes="" data-link="mailto:foia@nara.gov" data-size="btn-lg" data-style="btn-primary" data-title=" <strong>Submit Operational FOIA requests by sending an email to FOIA@nara.gov</strong>" data-version="1" href="mailto:foia@nara.gov"><strong>Submit Operational FOIA requests by sending an email to FOIA@nara.gov</strong></a></p> <hr /> <p>Learn more about requesting operational and archival records: <strong><a class="moreLink" href="/foia/foia-guide">Freedom of Information Act Reference Guide</a></strong></p> </div> </div> <div class="col-sm-4"> <div class="nwidget ncallout clearfix boxed width100 " data-additional-classes="" data-alignment="" data-style="boxed" data-version="1" data-width="100"> <p><a class="nwidget nbutton btn btn-lg btn-primary " data-additional_classes="" data-link="/foia/electronic-reading-room.html" data-size="btn-lg" data-style="btn-primary" data-title="<strong>Electronic Reading Room</strong>" data-version="1" href="/foia/electronic-reading-room.html"><strong>Electronic Reading Room</strong></a></p> <p>Find documents frequently requested under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) as well as information routinely available to the public.</p> </div> <p> </p> <p><a class="nwidget nbutton btn btn-lg btn-primary " data-additional_classes="" data-link="/foia/tracking" data-size="btn-lg" data-style="btn-primary" data-title="<strong>Track Pending FOIA Requests</strong>" data-version="1" href="/foia/tracking"><strong>Track Pending FOIA Requests</strong></a></p> <p> </p> <div class="nwidget ncontainer nlarge_box" data-additional-classes="" data-alt-tag="" data-body_text="" data-image="" data-layout="default" data-style="default" data-title="Best Practices for Filing a FOIA Request / Tips " data-version="1"> <div class="panel panel-default box box-lg clearfix "> <div class="panel-heading"> <h2>Best Practices for Filing a FOIA Request / Tips </h2> </div> <div class="panel-body"> <div class="box-content"> <ul> <li><a href="/ogis/resources">OGIS FOIA Resources</a> — <br /> Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)</li> <li><a href="/ogis/resources/filing-a-foia-request">Requester Best Practices — Filing a FOIA Request</a></li> <li><a href="/ogis/resources/ogis-toolbox/best-practices-for-foia-requesters">Tips for Filing FOIA Requests</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <p> </p> <div class="nwidget nlayout ncolumns row " data-columns="2x1_2"> <div class="col-sm-6"> <div class="nwidget ncontainer nlarge_box" data-additional-classes="" data-alt-tag="" data-body_text="" data-image="" data-layout="default" data-style="default" data-title="FOIA Resources (OGIS)" data-version="1"> <div class="panel panel-default box box-lg clearfix "> <div class="panel-heading"> <h2>FOIA Resources (OGIS)</h2> </div> <div class="panel-body"> <div class="box-content"> <p>The <a href="/ogis/">Office of Government Information Services (OGIS)</a> is a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) resource for the public and the government.</p> <p>Congress has charged OGIS with reviewing FOIA policies, procedures and compliance of federal agencies and identifying ways to improve compliance.</p> <p>Their mission also includes resolving FOIA disputes between federal agencies and requesters.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="nwidget ncontainer nlarge_box" data-additional-classes="" data-alt-tag="" data-body_text="" data-image="" data-layout="default" data-style="default" data-title="FOIA Reports" data-version="1"> <div class="panel panel-default box box-lg clearfix "> <div class="panel-heading"> <h2>FOIA Reports</h2> </div> <div class="panel-body"> <div class="box-content"> <ul> <li><a href="/foia/reports/">Archive of FOIA Annual Reports</a> (2013 - Current)</li> <li><a href="/foia/reports/chief-foia-officer-reports.html">Archive of Chief FOIA Officer's Annual Reports </a><a href="/foia/reports/chief-foia-officer-reports.html">(</a>2010 - Current)</li> <li><a href="/foia/reports/quarterly.html">Archive of Quarterly Reports</a> (FY 2013 - Current Fiscal Year)</li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6"> <div class="nwidget ncontainer nlarge_box" data-additional-classes="" data-alt-tag="" data-body_text="" data-image="" data-layout="default" data-style="default" 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