Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
52 Articles
Declassified US Memo on Ethel Rosenberg Confirms She Was No Spy: Time for President Biden to Correct the Record
Her sons urge President Biden to correct the historical record by declaring her conviction and execution wrongful and issuing an apology.
A Historic Cold War Execution on Espionage Charges: Information Delayed is Information Denied
The sons of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg call for release of all NSA and National Archives records related to their mother's case.
Inching Toward a More Transparent Office of Legal Counsel
Analysis of DOJ Office of Legal Counsel's May 19, 2023 release of a new index of unclassified OLC opinions written between 1998 and 2019.
Permanently Winding Down the War on Terror Requires Greater Transparency
Increased transparency is needed to ensure the United States makes a definitive turn away from endless war.
We Now Know What Information the FBI Can Obtain from Encrypted Messaging Apps
Despite its “going dark” claims, the FBI can obtain a remarkable amount of user data from secure messaging apps that collectively have several billion global users.
Long-Withheld Office of Legal Counsel Records Reveal Agency’s Postwar Influence
The Knight Institute is publishing 14 indexes cataloging the titles of more than a thousand unclassified opinions authored by the OLC between 1945 and 1958.
Federal Agencies Face April Deadline on Secret JFK Files
Congress has mandated that agencies update the public on thousands of files related to the JFK assassination by April 26. Previous disclosures have been incomplete. Will agencies…
How Attorney General Garland Can Strengthen FOIA Implementation
Here's what Attorney General Garland's department-wide memorandum on the Freedom of Information of Act should look like.
Just Security Obtains Overseas Troop Counts That the Pentagon Concealed from the Public
Through FOIA litigation, Just Security obtained records that provide a fuller picture of U.S. troop commitments in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria over the last three years.
The Promises of FOIA in 2021: A Ready Pathway to Accountability
It's not just a matter of choice for Biden admin. Here's what the Freedom of Information Act — and pending litigation — requires the executive branch to disclose about Trump…
Redactions in CDC Communications Policies Leave Key Questions Unanswered
Newly released CDC documents — via FOIA — confirm Office of Vice President’s involvement in CDC COVID-19 communications, leave important details concealed, and raise First…
Recently Released OLC Opinions From 1974 Shed Light on Current Legal Debates
Earlier this month, my colleagues and I at the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University secured the release of 96 previously withheld opinions authored by the Justice…