Skip to content

Judicial Watch, Inc. is a conservative, non-partisan educational foundation, which promotes transparency, accountability and integrity in government, politics and the law.

Judicial Watch, Inc. is a conservative, non-partisan educational foundation, which promotes transparency, accountability and integrity in government, politics and the law.

Because no one
is above the law!

Donate

Judicial Watch

Corruption Chronicles

Use of FOIA Exemptions Rises

According to a recent study by the Coalition of Journalists for Open Government about Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) exemptions, less information was released via the FOIA in 2004 than in 2000. What is curious about the study is that while agencies processed 13 percent fewer requests in 2004, the overall use of FOIA exemptions rose by 22 percent.

The study by the Coalition of Journalists for Open Government compared FOIA responses and denials in 2000 and 2004. It found that unclassified information was increasingly being withheld from FOIA requesters using exemptions for intra- or interagency memoranda, internal personnel rules and practices, and proprietary information.

“Surprisingly,” the Coalition writes, “the analysis found a marked decline in the use of the exemption for information classified in the interest of national security, even though national security has been regularly cited since September 11, 2001 as justification for the increased safeguarding of records.”

Related

Epstein Scandal Update

Justice Department Reviewing FBI/DOJ Epstein Records for Possible Release Judicial Watch Sues for FBI Records on Biden Scheme to Jail Trump Judicial Watch Sues for FBI Records on E...

Judicial Watch Sues for FBI Records Regarding Jeffrey Epstein Victim Virginia Giuffre

Press Releases | July 11, 2025
(Washington, DC) – Judicial Watch announced today it filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice for all interviews, conversations and ...

Thune can force the Senate to confirm Trump’s nominees quickly

In The News | July 10, 2025
From The Hill: President Trump’s America-first agenda, backed by the tens of millions who elected him, can only move forward if senators actually do their jobs by voting on the pre...