#10 - Freedom of Information Act

 Freedom of Information Act 

The Freedom of Information Act is a "vital part of our democracy." According to FOIA.gov, the FOIA "provides the public the right to request access to records from any federal agency." The act is essential to keeping American citizens informed about the government. Many people who are ill-informed of our rights as U.S. citizens are not aware of the Freedom of Information Act, what it entails, and how you can request information from a federal agency. 
  
FOIA.gov answers many of the questions generally asked about the Freedom of Information Act. One of which being, "who can make a FOIA request?" The answer is anyone, "citizen or not." There are several steps that need to be taken before making a FOIA request. First, the individual must ensure that information that is desired is not already available publically. Federal agencies are required to post certain categories of information online and there is much information regarding what agencies have posted on The Freedom of Information Act website.  If the information desired is not already public, then the individual can put in a request at the agency's FOIA office. Requests and records are handled by the agencies themselves.

Like any right, there will be violations regarding Freedom of Information Act requests. For example, an agency in Virginia was found to have violated FOIA by not releasing overdose data. The agency is the Virginia state Office of Emergency Medical Services. An advocate for addiction recovery, Michael McDermott, requested overdose information and the OEMS, which is under the Virginia Health Department, failed to provide the data. The case lasted for months before the judge ordered the agency to provide the information. The agency's online portal violated FOIA because it doesn't provide all the information requested, and the office "didn't cite any FOIA exemption." McDermott told The Roanoak Times that their failure "pushed me to the brink, it's a shame that public dollars had to be used here." 

Everyone has a right to know what is happening in the government. Transparency is essential to our democracy and agencies refusing to release information goes against the citizen's rights to know information, especially if that information involves the public. Protecting the Freedom of Information Act is important because it is a necessity, this is why individuals should educate others about FOIA and why it exists.  

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