Service Description

FOIA is a federal obligation, but how agencies interpret and implement it often reflects executive priorities rather than ideals of transparency and accountability. This workshop examines how the second Trump administration has reshaped executive information management, creating a new paradigm for how agencies respond to requests, manage backlogs, and assert legal interpretations. **Understanding the landscape** We’ll explore how doctrines like the Unitary Executive Theory influence FOIA implementation, and why agencies may compartmentalize, delay, or challenge requests. Real-world examples show how legal arguments and obfuscation can complicate access, and why discerning the difference between bluff and law is crucial for effective reporting. **Leveraging resources** Even in challenging environments, journalists are not without tools. This session highlights practical ways to navigate FOIA, including leveraging platforms like MuckRock Requests and understanding how publications, legal actions, and collective reporting can turn obstacles into accountability wins. You’ll gain insight into pursuing agency compliance under federal law and strategies for holding offices responsible when discretion is applied willfully rather than lawfully. This workshop equips reporters with a practical framework for navigating FOIA under complex executive priorities, understanding the limits and possibilities of federal transparency, and turning legal and procedural challenges into meaningful reporting opportunities.