Immigrant Daily

OBAMA on FOIA

In a Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies President Obama emphasizes the importance of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which encourages accountability and transparency in a democratic country like US.

The FOIA should be administered with a clear presumption. The Government should not hide information merely because errors and failures might be revealed or because of speculative or abstract fears. Queries under FOIA, executive branch agencies (agencies) should act promptly, recognizing that such agencies are servants of public.

New Memorandum mandates all agencies to adopt a presumption in favor of disclosure, in order to renew their commitment to the principles embodied in FOIA and to usher in a new era of open Government. The presumption of disclosure should be applied to all decisions involving FOIA.

The agencies should take affirmative steps to disseminate information and should use modern technology to inform citizens about what is known and done by their Government.

For detailed information, please see:

White House on FOIA