How well do federal agencies comply with the Freedom of Information Act? These scorecards track response times, compliance rates, and denial patterns based on requests filed through FOIAfile.
Under the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(6)(A), federal agencies are required to respond to FOIA requests within 20 business days. When agencies fail to meet this deadline, requesters have exhausted their administrative remedies and may file suit in federal district court.
These scorecards are based on FOIA requests filed through FOIAfile and are updated in real time. Compliance grades reflect the percentage of requests where the agency responded within the statutory deadline. If an agency has missed its deadline on your request, you may have legal options — contact a FOIA attorney for a free consultation.