"US Sets New Record For Censoring, Withholding Gov’t Files"

"WASHINGTON — The federal government censored, withheld or said it couldn’t find records sought by citizens, journalists and others more often last year than at any point in the past decade, according to an Associated Press analysis of new data.

The calculations cover eight months under President Donald Trump, the first hints about how his administration complies with the Freedom of Information Act.

The surge of people who sought records but ended up empty-handed was driven by the government saying more than ever it could not find a single page of requested files and asserting in other cases that it would be illegal under U.S. laws to release the information."

Ted Bridis reports for the Associated Press March 12, 2018.

SEE ALSO:

"Oversight Committee Probes Interior FOIA Rule" (E&E Daily)

"FOIA Requests Are Up In Trump Era, But Parties Disagree on Whether That’s Good" (Government Executive)

Opinion: "How To Ensure We Have A More Open, Accountable Government" (Washington Post)

Release: "Lawsuits Target Trump's War on Transparency at EPA, Interior Department " (Center for Biological Diversity)