Hiatus to FOIA Responses Repealed

On September 17, 2020, we posted about the fact that we joined other advocates to urge DC to rescind the hiatus in FOIA responses during the COVID-19 public health emergency.  We are happy to report that the Council thereafter repealed that hiatus and the FOIA system is set to return to normal as of January 15, 2021, except where additional time is needed if there is a significant COVID-related risk posed by review of hard copy files.

TPM Joins Other Advocates to Urge DC to Rescind the Hiatus in FOIA Responses During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency

The DC Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) was put on hold this spring due to the COVID-19 public health emergency.  At that time, DC passed emergency legislation that permitted its agencies to stop responding to FOIA requests until the public health emergency is over, even if the agency could safely process the requests.  This complete halt in public access to government information is harmful to our democracy and is entirely unnecessary since most public information could be produced without any risk of infection.

Terris, Pravlik & Millian, LLP has joined several advocacy organizations to urge the D.C. Council to restore the government’s FOIA obligations.  The request recognizes that there could be some circumstances in which production of information could be made difficult or dangerous due to COVID-19, and explains that, in those circumstances, agencies could extend the deadlines upon written notice of the specific health or safety justification.

Click here to read and support the letter.