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FOIA Under Attack: Landmark Transparency Law Turns 60; Fed Gov’t Blocking More Documents Than Ever

2026-07-10 News & Politics
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Description

Support our work: https://democracynow.org/donate/sm-desc-yt This month marks the 60th anniversary of the Freedom of Information Act, the landmark government transparency law that has helped reveal and publicize critical information about everything from the Vietnam War to FBI surveillance to CIA torture. For decades, FOIA has played a crucial role in uncovering and rectifying government wrongdoing. Today, however, advocates say that the government’s resistance to fulfilling FOIA requests has grown, forcing applicants to file expensive lawsuits to obtain records, while records that are released often take years to receive and are filled with so many redactions as to render them essentially “a waste of time.” Democracy Now! is an independent global news hour that airs on over 1,500 TV and radio stations Monday through Friday. Watch our livestream at democracynow.org Mondays to Fridays 8-9 a.m. ET. Subscribe to our Daily Email Digest: https://democracynow.org/subscribe

Top Comments (10)

@beardnheart 2026-07-10

more of the right's fear of everything and everyone, especially people knowing the truth of their unrelenting failures and theft. why is the administration attempting to block the US citizenry's ability to see what is happening on the ground in Iran either through drone or satellite footage?

17 1 replies
@uknoono7603 2026-07-10

this is foul

7
@bnblak69 2026-07-13

Thank you Amy and Juan for telling the truth

1
@louisesumrell6331 2026-07-10

In North Carolina you have to get a judge to sign off on police bodycams, 911 calls, etc.

7 1 replies
@sidedo1714 2026-07-11

The government is now working against the people.

5
@thedawaltdebacker7710 2026-07-10

Thank you for continuing to report these very relevant stories.

7
@kevinwilliams1768 2026-07-10

Very insightful interview from Ian Head. This is very concerning and disturbing. Under this administration I'm not surprised its worse.

6
@havenbastion 2026-07-11

Any government that stands against transparency is standing against accountability is already corrupt.

1
@mercedesruiz3356 2026-07-10

Amy y Juan , gracias por esta entrevista.

1
@kathiegausman1284 2026-07-10

FOIA is in trouble? NO! It was in trouble under Trump's first reign. It is in absolute CRISIS now!!

4 1 replies

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