We FOIA the ‘largest anti-left surveillance’ operation in US history
DOJ says presidents should be able to sell secrets on eBay
Featured Issues
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Reform Government Secrecy
The U.S. classifies far too many secrets, obstructing democracy.
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Strengthen the Freedom of Information Act
The Freedom of Information Act gives the public a right to access government records.
More on the Issue
Deeper Dives on Secrecy
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The Pentagon Papers
Daniel Ellsberg’s leak led to a landmark Supreme Court ruling on press freedom.
Read about it here -
The Classified Catalog
FPF is tracking reports of the Trump administration’s unforeseen levels of secrecy.
Read about it here -
Our Lawsuits
FPF’s litigation over excessive government secrecy and in defense of press freedom.
Read about them here
Incredible (and unpaywalled) public records reporting
Submissions to our inaugural Penlight Prize showed inspiring journalistic grit and perseverance in the face of official stonewalling
Records show ICE paid local cops $15M for 7 arrests
Plus: FPF asks lawmakers to end SCOTUS secrecy
A $2.5 million FOIA bill for one cop’s files
Plus: Is Trump serious about declassifying UFO information?
The president who cried ‘national security’
Plus: The Pentagon appears to be underreporting Iran war casualties — again
Whistleblower exposes FOIA sabotage at immigration agency
Plus: The Agriculture Department arbitrarily threatens to close a year-old FOIA request for SNAP data within four days
The Iran war is unpopular. Hegseth thinks more secrecy will help
Plus: It’s time to declassify the 9/11 records
SCOTUS secrecy is reaching a crisis point
Plus: Trump’s shadowy Venezuela oil deal, and a 72-hour FOIA purge
PR concerns don’t give agencies a pass on FOIA
Plus: “National security” tariffs on brass tubas, Nazi records still classified, and more.
DOJ prosecutes single FOIA dodger while defending systemwide evasion
Plus: Have an unpaywalled FOIA story? Apply for the Penlight Prize
Executive secrecy expands with unprecedented new memo
Plus: New archivist confirmed despite lack of qualifications
