Freedom of Information Act. Noncompliance with Affirmative Disclosure Provisions.
Abstract
To determine whether federal agencies were complying with the Freedom of Information Act's (FOIA) affirmative disclosure requirements, we interviewed officials of component organizations of the 13 cabinet-level departments and the Veterans Administration and evaluated their procedures. Our review was designed to assess compliance efforts at these organizations only, and the results can not be projected to the departments as a whole or to other organizations subject to FOIA requirements. At the 14 organizations we found that: in 13 instances, the U.S. Government organizations did not publish or keep current information on their central and field organizations; in six instances, organizations' published statements on where the public could obtain information were out of date; and one organization did not publish procedural information on its system of hearings and appeals. Officials in the 14 organizations attributed noncompliance with subsection (a)(1) to such reasons as delays in internal rules clearance processes, frequent agency reorganizations, and administrative error. Officials in some organizations also felt that publication of organization material in The United States Government Manual was sufficient compliance. In 20 instances, 60% of the organizations were not in full compliance with subsection (a)(2) requirements. Thus, these organizations did not provide members of the public the means to routinely identify and inspect all materials they might require in dealing with the organizations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1986
- Accession Number
- ADA168589
Entities
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office