U.S. Dept of State FOIA Annual Report for FY 2024

• Locations: United States of America • Topics: Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA)
ANNUAL REPORT for FISCAL YEAR 2024

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA)
ANNUAL REPORT for FISCAL YEAR 2024
The following Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Annual Report covers the
period October 1, 2023, through September 30, 2024, as required by 5
U.S.C. § 552.
I.

BASIC INFORMATION REGARDING REPORT
A.

Questions about this report may be addressed to:
Timothy Kootz
Deputy Assistant Secretary
Shared Knowledge Services
2201 C Street N.W.
U.S. Department of State
Washington, D.C. 20520
Telephone: (202) 261-8484
Fax: (202) 485-1669
Website: https://foia.state.gov/

This report is available on the Department’s web site at
https://foia.state.gov/Learn/Reports.aspx.

Paper copies of this report may be requested by contacting
Information Access Programs Directorate (A/SKS/IAP) at the
above address.

II.

MAKING A FOIA REQUEST
A.

FOIA requests to the Department must be in writing. Requests
may be submitted in any of the following ways to the
Information Access Programs Directorate (IAP):
• Mail to: Information Access Programs Directorate, A/SKS/IAP,
2201 C Street N.W., Suite B266, Department of State,
Washington, D.C. 20520; or
• Fax to (202) 485-1669; or
• Email to foiarequest@state.gov; or
• On-line at the Department’s website:
https://foia.state.gov/Request/
FOIA requests must reasonably describe the Department
record(s) that the requester seeks in sufficient detail to enable
agency personnel to locate them with a reasonable amount of
effort. To the extent possible, requesters should include specific
information that may assist the Department in identifying the
requested record(s), such as the date, title or name, author,
recipient, subject matter, case number, file designation
reference number, or timeframe. Requests seeking access to
information pertaining to an individual should include the
individual’s full name, date and place of birth, and citizenship
status (if known). A request for records about oneself must
include verification of identity. A request for records about an
individual other than the requester should include verification of
identity with properly executed authorization from the subject
individual or evidence of the individual’s death, as appropriate,
in order to gain the broadest access to those records. More
information about verification of identity and proper
authorization may be found on the Department’s FOIA website
(https://foia.state.gov/Request/PersonalRecords.aspx). If such
2

documentation cannot be provided, the request should indicate
that fact. The request should also indicate the requester’s
willingness to pay applicable fees or provide appropriate
justification to support a fee waiver. Guidance regarding fees
and fee waiver requests is also available on the Department’s
website.
If mailing or faxing a FOIA request, the envelope or subject line
of the fax coversheet should be clearly labeled: “Freedom of
Information Act Request.” It is important that all requests
include a valid daytime telephone number, e-mail address, or
both, where the Department can reach the requester to discuss
the request as necessary.
Requests may also be made on-line at the Department’s FOIA
website at https://foia.state.gov/Request/. This site contains
helpful tips to assist requesters in formulating their requests and
information on how requesters can register to create an online
profile and request records online using the Public Access Link
(PAL) portal. This portal allows members of the public to access
previously requested records, submit a FOIA request, and check
the status of their outstanding request(s).
The Department can only process requests that comply with its
published regulations. The Department is unable to process
requests that do not contain enough information to permit the
Department to locate the requested records or that otherwise
do not comply with Department regulations. If after receiving a
request the Department determines that the request does not
reasonably describe the records sought, the Department will
inform the requester that the request is insufficient and may ask
for additional information. If a request does not reasonably
3

describe the records sought, the agency’s response to the
request may be delayed.
If the Department makes an adverse determination denying a
request in any respect, it will notify the requester of that
determination in writing. Adverse determinations, or denials of
requests, include decisions that: the requested record is exempt
from disclosure, in whole or in part; the request does not
reasonably describe the records sought; the information
requested is not a record subject to the FOIA; the requested
record does not exist, cannot be located, or has been destroyed;
or the requested record is not readily reproducible in the form
or format sought by the requester. Adverse determinations also
include denials involving fees or fee waiver matters or denials of
requests for expedited processing.
If information is withheld, the requester will be notified of the
approximate amount of information withheld, the basis for the
withholding, and how to file an administrative appeal. For more
information about filing an appeal, please visit the Department’s
website at https://foia.state.gov. You may also contact the
Department’s FOIA office by calling (202) 261-8484, or writing to
the address below:
Information Access Programs Directorate
A/SKS/IAP
2201 C Street N.W., Suite B266
Department of State
Washington, D.C. 20520
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) is a separate component
within the Department of State. The OIG directly responds to
4

requests for records that are exclusively OIG-related, such as
those related to OIG inspections, audits, or investigations.
FOIA requests for OIG records must be made in writing by mail,
e-mail, or fax as follows:
FOIA Officer
Office of General Counsel
Office of Inspector General
U.S. Department of State
1700 North Moore Street
Suite 1400
Arlington, VA 22209
E-mail: FOIA@stateoig.gov
Fax: (703) 284-1866
Phone: (571) 348-2405
Website: https://www.stateoig.gov/foia
B.

The Department of State is responsible for formulating and
executing U.S. foreign policy and U.S. foreign relations. Records
are maintained domestically and throughout the world at posts,
missions, embassies, and consulates. The Department also
maintains records of applications from U.S. citizens for U.S.
passports, visa requests from non-citizens, and records of its
own employees, as well as other types of records. Because of
the nature and scope of its records holdings, including classified
and other sensitive material, the Department conducts a
rigorous review to determine whether any information must be
withheld under one of the nine FOIA exemptions. In
implementing the Department’s mission, the Department works
closely with many other federal agencies and international
partners. For this reason, the Department often must consult
with other, and at times multiple, federal agencies and foreign
5

governments that have an interest in the records, which adds
time and complexity to the FOIA process. The exemptions most
often relied upon by the Department to withhold information
are shown in Table V.B.(3). In addition, the Department receives
a large volume of FOIA referrals from other agencies, which also
contributes to its FOIA processing workload.
C.

III.

The Department’s FOIA regulations are codified at 22 C.F.R. Part
171. These regulations are available through the Government
Printing Office’s (GPO) website at https://www.ecfr.gov/cgibin/ECFR?page=browse or on the Department’s website at
https://foia.state.gov/. The most recent fee schedule is found in
the Information Access Guide at
https://www.foia.state.gov/Request/Guide.aspx.

ABBREVIATIONS, DEFINITIONS, AND EXEMPTIONS
A.

Agency-Specific Abbreviations and Basic Terms:
1.

A/SKS/IAP – Bureau of Administration (A), Deputy
Assistant Secretary for Shared Knowledge Service (SKS),
Information Access Programs Directorate (IAP).

Consulate – a type of Post; a Consulate is the office and
staff of a Consul, who is a diplomatic representative of the
U.S. Government, subordinate to the Ambassador,
operating from a facility located within a major city of a
foreign country.

Embassy – a type of Post; an Embassy is the office and
staff of the Ambassador, who is the principal diplomatic
representative of the U.S. Government, holding Chief of
Mission (COM) authority, typically operating from a facility
located within the capital city of a foreign country.
6

Mission – a Mission is a U.S. Government organization; an
embassy, legation, or other organization established and
maintained to: 1) conduct bilateral relations between the
U.S. Government and another government or authority, or
multilateral relations with a group of governments or an
international organization, or 2) represent the U.S.
Government in negotiations and other diplomatic
initiatives that are of specific limited scope or objectives
and that have other sovereignties or authorities as parties.
The U.S. mission is an integrated structure, headed by a
Chief of Mission or equivalent authority.

Post – a type of Department of State organization; a Post
is any Foreign Service diplomatic or consular
establishment, or else an establishment having a special
designation, maintained in support of a U.S. Mission. It is
further designated by a Post type such as Embassy,
Consulate, Branch Office, etc., for diplomatic or consular
posts, or as a Specially Designated Post for an
establishment that has a special purpose that is not
primarily diplomatic or consular.

OIG – Office of Inspector General.

Definitions of terms used in this report:
1.

Administrative Appeal – a request to a federal agency
asking that it review at a higher administrative level a FOIA
determination made by the agency at the initial request
level.

Average Number – the number obtained by dividing the
sum of a group of numbers by the quantity of numbers in
the group. For example, the average of 3, 7, and 14 is 8.
7

Backlog – the number of perfected requests or
administrative appeals that are pending at an agency at
the end of the fiscal year that are beyond the statutory
time period for a response.

Component – for agencies that process requests on a
decentralized basis, a “component” is an entity, also
sometimes referred to as an Office, Division, Post, Bureau,
Center, or Directorate, within the agency that processes
FOIA requests. The FOIA requires that agencies include in
their FOIA Annual Report data for both the agency overall
and for each principal component of the agency.

Consultation – the procedure whereby the agency
responding to a FOIA request forwards information to
another agency for review because the other agency has
an interest in the information. When the agency in receipt
of the consultation completes its review, it advises the
agency that initiated the consultation of its release
determination. The initiating agency will then respond to
the FOIA requester.

Exemption 3 Statute – a federal statute that specifically
exempts information from disclosure that an agency relies
on to withhold information under Exemption 3 of the
FOIA, 5 U.S.C. § 552(b)(3), in response to a request.
Exemption 3 statutes contain non-discretionary
prohibitions against disclosure or establish particular
criteria for withholding.

FOIA Request – an information access request processed
under the Freedom of Information Act by the federal
agency in receipt of the request. FOIA requests may seek
access to records concerning another person (i.e., a “thirdparty” request), an organization, or a particular topic of
8

interest. FOIA requests also include requests made by
individuals seeking records concerning themselves (i.e.,
“first-party” requests) when those individuals are not
subject to the Privacy Act of 1974 (i.e., individuals who are
neither U.S. citizens nor lawful permanent residents).
Federal agencies process first-party requests submitted by
U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents under both
the FOIA and the Privacy Act in order to provide the
greatest degree of access to the requested information.
Additionally, a FOIA request includes records referred to
the agency from another agency for processing and direct
response to the requester (see Section V of this report).
8.

Full Grant – an agency decision to disclose in full all
records located in response to a FOIA request.

Full Denial – an agency decision not to disclose any
records in response to a FOIA request because the records
are exempt in their entireties under one or more of FOIA’s
nine exemptions, because the existence or non-existence
of records is exempt under one or more of FOIA’s nine
exemptions, or because of a procedural reason, such as
when no records could be located.

10.

Median Number – the middle, not average, number. For
example, the median of 3, 7, and 14 is 7.

11.

Multi-Track Processing – a system in which requests are
placed in different processing tracks based on the
complexity of the search and/or review of the responsive
material. For example, requests placed in the simple
request track are anticipated to require relatively minimal
search time to locate responsive records, which will result
in a small amount of material to review. The complex
request track contains requests that require multiple
9

searches and/or are anticipated to locate more
voluminous or complicated responsive records for review.
Requests granted expedited processing are placed in a
separate track. Requests in each track are processed on a
first-in/first-out basis.
a) Expedited Processing – an agency will process a FOIA
request on an expedited basis when a requester
satisfies the requirements for expedited processing as
set forth in the statute and in agency regulations.
b) Simple Request – a FOIA request that an agency using
multi-track processing places in its fastest (nonexpedited) track based on the low volume and/or
simplicity of the records requested.
c) Complex Request – a FOIA request that an agency using
multi-track processing places in a slower track based on
the high volume and/or complexity of the records
requested.
12.

Partial Grant/Partial Denial – an agency decision to
withhold exempt information appearing in a portion or
portions of the responsive records in response to a FOIA
request, or to otherwise deny a portion of the request for
a procedural reason.

13.

Pending Request or Pending Administrative Appeal – a
request or administrative appeal for which an agency has
not taken final action in all respects.

14.

Perfected Request – a request for records that reasonably
describes the requested information and is made in
accordance with the agency’s published regulations.

15.

Processed Request or Processed Administrative Appeal –
a request or administrative appeal for which an agency has
taken final action in all respects.

16.

Range in Number of Days – the lowest and highest
number of days to process requests or administrative
appeals.

17.

Referral – the procedure whereby the agency responding
to a FOIA request forwards information that originated
with another agency to that agency for its review. When
the originating agency completes its review of the referred
information, it typically responds directly to the FOIA
requester.

18.

Time Limits – the time period contained in the FOIA within
which an agency must respond to a FOIA request
(ordinarily twenty working days from the date of receipt of
a perfected FOIA request).

Concise descriptions of the nine FOIA exemptions:
1.

Exemption 1: classified national defense and foreign
relations information

Exemption 2: information that is related solely to the
internal personnel rules and practices of an agency

Exemption 3: information that is prohibited from
disclosure by another federal law

Exemption 4: trade secrets and other confidential business
information

Exemption 5: inter-agency or intra-agency
communications that are protected by legal privileges

Exemption 6: information involving matters of personal
privacy

Exemption 7: records or information compiled for law
enforcement purposes, to the extent that the production
of those records (A) could reasonably be expected to
interfere with enforcement proceedings, (B) would deprive
a person of a right to a fair trial or an impartial
adjudication, (C) could reasonably be expected to
constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy,
(D) could reasonably be expected to disclose the identity
of a confidential source, (E) would disclose techniques and
procedures for law enforcement investigations or
prosecutions, or would disclose guidelines for law
enforcement investigations or prosecutions, or (F) could
reasonably be expected to endanger the life or physical
safety of any individual

Exemption 8: information relating to the regulation or
supervision of financial institutions

Exemption 9: geological or geophysical information on
wells

3. AGENCY COMPONENT ABBREVIATIONS
Component Abbreviation

Component Name

DOS – Main

Department of State

OIG

Office of Inspector General

IV. EXEMPTION 3 STATUTES

Statute

8 U.S.C. § 1202(f)

10 U.S.C. § 130b

Type of Information
Withheld

Certain records
pertaining to the
issuance or refusal of
visas to enter the
United States

Personally identifiable
information pertaining
to “any member of
the armed forces
assigned to an
overseas unit, a
sensitive unit, or a
routinely deployable
unit” and “any
employee of the
Department of

Case Citation

Agency / Component

Medina-Hincapie v.
Dep’t of State, 700
F.2d 737, 741-42 (D.C.
Cir. 1983); De
Laurentiis v. Haig, 686
F.2d 192, 194 (3d Cir.
1982); Assadi v. Dep’t
of State, No. 12-1111,
2014 WL 4704840, at
*6-7 (S.D.N.Y. Sept.
19, 2014);
Badalamenti v. U.S.
Dep’t of State, 899 F.
Supp. 542, 547 (D.
Kan. 1995).

Total Number of
Times Relied upon by
Agency Overall

DOS – Main
6024

OIG

Freedom Watch, Inc.
DOS – Main
v. NSA, 197 F. Supp.
3d 165, 174 (D.D.C.
2016); Hiken v. DOD,
521 F. Supp. 2d 1047,
1062 (N.D. Cal. 2007);
O’Keefe v. DOD, 463 F.
Supp. 2d 317, 325
(E.D.N.Y. 2006);
Windel v. United
States, No. A02-306,
15

Number of Times
Relied upon
by Agency /
Component

6024
0

Statute

10 U.S.C. § 130c

22 U.S.C. § 2778(e)

50 U.S.C. § 3507
(formerly at 50 U.S.C.
§ 403g)

Type of Information
Withheld

Case Citation

Agency / Component

Defense or of the
Coast Guard whose
duty station is with
any such unit”

2005 WL 846206, at
*2 (D. Alaska Apr. 11,
2005).

Certain “sensitive
information of foreign
governments” and
certain international
organizations

ACLU v. DOD, 389 F.
Supp. 2d 547, 553-54
(S.D.N.Y. 2005); Nat’l
Inst. of Mil. Just. v.
DOD, 404 F. Supp. 2d
325, 335-37 (D.D.C.
2005), aff’d on other
grounds, 512 F.3d 677
(D.C. Cir. 2008);
Gerstein v. DOD, No.
03-5193, slip op. at 8
(N.D. Ca. Dec. 21,
2004).

DOS – Main

Council for a Livable
World v. U.S. Dep’t of
State, 1998 U.S. Dist.
LEXIS 23642, at *11
(D.D.C. Jan. 21, 1998),
amended (D.D.C. Nov.
23, 1998).

DOS – Main

Certain information
pertaining to export
license applications

Intelligence sources
and methods; certain
information pertaining
to Agency functions or

Assassination Archives DOS – Main
& Rsch. Ctr. v. CIA, No.
18-5280, 2019 WL
691517 (D.C. Cir. Feb.
16

Number of Times
Relied upon
by Agency /
Component

Total Number of
Times Relied upon by
Agency Overall

Statute

Type of Information
Withheld

Case Citation

Agency / Component

employees,
specifically: “the
organization or
functions of the
Agency, or of the
names, official titles,
salaries, or numbers
of personnel
employed by the
Agency”

15, 2019) (per
curiam); ACLU v. DOJ,
681 F.3d 61, 72-75 (2d
Cir. 2012); Berman v.
CIA, 501 F.3d 1136,
1137-38, 1140 (9th
Cir. 2007); Makky v.
Chertoff, 489 F. Supp.
2d 421, 442 (D.N.J.
2007), aff’d on other
grounds, 541 F. 3d
205 (3d Cir. 2008).

5 U.S.C. § 407
(formerly at 5 U.S.C.
app. 3 § 7(b))

Names of employees
who provide
information or
complaints to the
Inspector General

Wash. Post Co. v.
Special Inspector Gen.
for Afg. Reconstr., 486
F. Supp. 3d 141, 166
(D.D.C. 2020).

OIG

50 U.S.C. § 3024(i)(1)
(formerly at 50 U.S.C.
§ 403-1(i)(1))
(National Security Act
of 1947)

Intelligence sources
and methods

CIA v. Sims, 471 U.S.
159, 167 (1985)

DOS – Main

Number of Times
Relied upon
by Agency /
Component

Total Number of
Times Relied upon by
Agency Overall

V.A. FOIA REQUESTS — RECEIVED, PROCESSED, AND PENDING FOIA REQUESTS

Agency / Component
DOS – Main
OIG
AGENCY OVERALL

Number of Requests
Pending as of Start
of Fiscal Year

Number of
Requests Received
in Fiscal Year

Number of
Requests Processed
in Fiscal Year

Number of Requests
Pending as of End
of Fiscal Year

23,821

22,171

20,693

25,299

135

152

23,920

22,306

20,775

25,451

After reviewing its database, DOS adjusted the number of requests pending as of the start of the Fiscal Year.

V.B.(1). DISPOSITION OF FOIA REQUESTS — ALL PROCESSED REQUESTS

Agency /
Component

Number
of Full
Grants

Number
of
Partial
Grants /
Partial
Denials

DOS – Main

372

5,443

7
379

OIG
AGENCY
OVERALL

Number of Full Denials Based on Reasons Other than Exemptions
Number of
Full Denials
Based on
Exemptions

No
Records

All Records
Referred to
Another
Component
or Agency

Request
Withdrawn

FeeRelated
Reason

Records
not
Reasonably
Described

Improper
FOIA
Request
for Other
Reason

Not
Agency
Record

Duplicate
Request

1,501

2,782

4,446

327

1,977

295

3,494

5,459

1,503

2,796

4,452

327

1,978

306

3,510

Other
*Explain
in Chart
Below

TOTAL

0 20,693
0

0 20,775

V.B.(2). DISPOSITION OF FOIA REQUESTS — “OTHER” REASONS FOR “FULL DENIALS BASED ON REASONS OTHER THAN
EXEMPTIONS”

Agency / Component

Description of “Other” Reasons for
Denials from Chart B(1)

Number of Times “Other” Reason
Was Relied Upon

TOTAL

DOS – Main

N/A

OIG

N/A

AGENCY OVERALL

V.B.(3). DISPOSITION OF FOIA REQUESTS — NUMBER OF TIMES EXEMPTIONS APPLIED

Agency / Component
DOS – Main
OIG
AGENCY OVERALL

Ex. 1

Ex. 2

Ex. 3

Ex. 4

Ex. 5

Ex. 6

Ex.
7(A)

Ex.
7(B)

Ex.
7(C)

Ex.
7(D)

Ex.
7(E)

Ex.
7(F)

Ex. 8

Ex. 9

6,040

146

904

148

105

6,041

154

920

154

106

VI.A. ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS OF INITIAL DETERMINATIONS OF FOIA REQUESTS — RECEIVED, PROCESSED, AND PENDING
ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS

Agency / Component
DOS – Main
OIG
AGENCY OVERALL

Number of Appeals
Pending as of Start
of Fiscal Year

Number of
Appeals Received
in Fiscal Year

Number of
Appeals Processed
in Fiscal Year

Number of Appeals
Pending as of End
of Fiscal Year

296

633

762

167

296

634

763

167

After reviewing its database, DOS adjusted the number of appeals pending as of the start of the Fiscal Year.

VI.B. DISPOSITION OF ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS — ALL PROCESSED APPEALS

Agency / Component
DOS – Main
OIG
AGENCY OVERALL

Number Affirmed on
Appeal

Number Partially
Affirmed & Partially
Reversed/Remanded
on Appeal

Number Completely
Reversed/Remanded
on Appeal

576

762

577

763

Number of Appeals
Closed for Other
Reasons

TOTAL

VI.C.(1). REASONS FOR DENIAL ON APPEAL — NUMBER OF TIMES EXEMPTIONS APPLIED

Agency / Component

Ex. 1

Ex. 2

Ex. 3

Ex. 4

Ex. 5

Ex. 6

Ex.
7(A)

Ex.
7(B)

Ex.
7(C)

Ex.
7(D)

Ex.
7(E)

Ex.
7(F)

Ex. 8

Ex. 9

DOS – Main

267

155

172

149

146

OIG

AGENCY OVERALL

267

155

172

149

146

VI.C.(2). REASONS FOR DENIAL ON APPEAL — REASONS OTHER THAN EXEMPTIONS

Agency /
Component

DOS – Main
OIG
AGENCY
OVERALL

Not
Agency
Record

Duplicate
Request
or Appeal

Request
in
Litigation

Appeal
Based
Solely on
Denial of
Request for
Expedited
Processing

Records
Referred
at Initial
Request
Level

Request
Withdrawn

No
Records

Records
Improper
Feenot
Request
Related
Reasonably for Other
Reason
Described
Reasons

Other
*Explain
in chart
below

VI.C.(3). REASONS FOR DENIAL ON APPEAL — “OTHER” REASONS

Agency / Component

Description of “Other” Reasons for
Denial on Appeal from Chart C(2)

Number of Times “Other” Reason
Was Relied Upon

TOTAL

DOS – Main

N/A

OIG

N/A

AGENCY OVERALL

VI.C.(4). RESPONSE TIME FOR ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS

Agency / Component
DOS – Main

Median Number of Days

Average Number of Days

Lowest Number of Days

Highest Number of Days

161.41

2,434

OIG

AGENCY OVERALL

150

2,434

VI.C.(5). TEN OLDEST PENDING ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS

10th
Oldest
Appeal

Agency /
Component

DOS – Main

OIG

AGENCY
OVERALL

9th

8th

7th

6th

5th

4th

3rd

2nd

Oldest
Appeal

Date of
Appeal

201712-12

2017-1003

2017-0707

2017-0324

2017-0306

2016-1128

2015-0611

2016-0502

Number
of Days
Pending

1,706

1,753

1,814

1,887

1,901

1,967

2,085

2,111

Date of
Appeal

N/A

Number
of Days
Pending

Date of
Appeal

201712-12

2017-1003

2017-0707

2017-0324

2017-0306

2016-1128

2015-0611

2016-0502

Number
of Days
Pending

1,706

1,753

1,814

1,887

1,901

1,967

2,085

2,111

VII.A. FOIA REQUESTS — RESPONSE TIME FOR ALL PROCESSED PERFECTED REQUESTS

SIMPLE
Agency /
Component

Median Average
Number Number
of Days of Days

COMPLEX

EXPEDITED PROCESSING

Lowest
Number
of Days

Highest
Number
of Days

Median
Number
of Days

Average
Number
of Days

Lowest
Number
of Days

Highest
Number
of Days

Median
Number
of Days

Average
Number
of Days

Lowest
Number
of Days

Highest
Number
of Days

DOS – Main

15.49

962

563.92

4,351

169

517.71

2,117

OIG

6.5

77.82

1,221

834.5

632.3

1,620

899

903.2

872

943

10.0

17.34

1,221

564.22

4,351

199

530.28

2,117

AGENCY
OVERALL

VII.B. PROCESSED REQUESTS — RESPONSE TIME FOR PERFECTED REQUESTS IN WHICH INFORMATION WAS GRANTED

SIMPLE
Agency /
Component

Median Average
Number Number
of Days of Days

COMPLEX

EXPEDITED PROCESSING

Lowest
Number
of Days

Highest
Number
of Days

Median
Number
of Days

Average
Number
of Days

Lowest
Number
of Days

Highest
Number
of Days

Median
Number
of Days

Average
Number
of Days

Lowest
Number
of Days

Highest
Number
of Days

DOS – Main

44.18

962

187.79

4,351

291

2,117

OIG

363.29

1,221

834.5

664.58

964

909.5

908.5

872

943

AGENCY
OVERALL

60.04

1,221

188.93

4,351

100

323.31

2,117

VII.C. PROCESSED SIMPLE REQUESTS — RESPONSE TIME IN DAY INCREMENTS

Agency /
Component
DOS – Main
OIG
AGENCY OVERALL

81100
Days

101120
Days

121140
Days

141160
Days

161180
Days

181200
Days

201300
Days

301400
Days

<1-20
Days

21-40
Days

41-60
Days

61-80
Days

1,630

1,659

1,667

1,715

401+
Days

TOTAL

VII.C. PROCESSED COMPLEX REQUESTS — RESPONSE TIME IN DAY INCREMENTS

Agency /
Component
DOS – Main
OIG
AGENCY OVERALL

<1-20
Days

21-40
Days

41-60
Days

61-80
Days

81100
Days

101120
Days

1,795

738

2,003

4,363

1,412

348

190

173

137

504

1,795

739

2,004

4,365

1,412

348

190

173

137

121140
Days

141160
Days

161180
Days

181200
Days

201300
Days

301400
Days

401+
Days

TOTAL

138

4,735

16,547

504

138

4,748

16,567

VII.C. PROCESSED REQUESTS GRANTED EXPEDITED PROCESSING — RESPONSE TIME IN DAY INCREMENTS

Agency /
Component

81100
Days

101120
Days

121140
Days

141160
Days

161180
Days

181200
Days

201300
Days

<1-20
Days

21-40
Days

41-60
Days

61-80
Days

DOS – Main

OIG

AGENCY OVERALL

301400
Days

401+
Days

TOTAL

183

188

VII.D. PENDING REQUESTS — ALL PENDING PERFECTED REQUESTS

SIMPLE
Agency /
Component
DOS – Main
OIG
AGENCY OVERALL

COMPLEX
Median
Number of
Days

EXPEDITED PROCESSING

Number
Pending

Median
Number
of Days

Average
Number of
Days

2,491

433

451.81

21,253

473

775.58

338

332

633.23

100

175

304

313

470

N/A

2,591

300

377.91

21,302

393

622.79

338

332

633.23

Number
Pending

Average
Number of
Days

Median
Number of
Days

Number
Pending

Average
Number of
Days

VII.E. PENDING REQUESTS — TEN OLDEST PENDING PERFECTED REQUESTS

10th
Oldest
Request

Agency /
Component

Date of Receipt

DOS – Main

Number of Days
Pending

Date of Receipt

OIG

Number of Days
Pending

Date of Receipt
AGENCY
OVERALL

Number of Days
Pending

Oldest
Request

9th

8th

7th

6th

5th

4th

3rd

2nd

200801-30

200712-20

200711-16

200710-25

200710-03

200710-01

200709-18

200709-06

200708-30

200708-24

4,183

4,209

4,232

4,247

4,262

4,264

4,273

4,281

4,285

4,289

202012-02

202011-16

202009-10

202008-07

202004-15

201912-04

201901-31

201811-02

201801-10

968

979

1,024

1,047

1,127

1,218

1,430

1,489

1,695

200801-30

200712-20

200711-16

200710-25

200710-03

200710-01

200709-18

200709-06

200708-30

200708-24

4,183

4,209

4,232

4,247

4,262

4,264

4,273

4,281

4,285

4,289

VIII.A. REQUESTS FOR EXPEDITED PROCESSING

Agency / Component
DOS – Main
OIG
AGENCY OVERALL

Number Granted

Median Number of
Days to Adjudicate

Number Denied

Average Number of
Days to Adjudicate

Number Adjudicated
Within Ten Calendar
Days

213

785

55.5

133

6.6

213

790

31.5

138

VIII.B. REQUESTS FOR FEE WAIVER

Agency / Component
DOS – Main
OIG
AGENCY OVERALL

Number Granted

Median Number of Days to
Adjudicate

Number Denied

Average Number of Days
to Adjudicate

376

56.06

377

42.5

52.03

IX. FOIA PERSONNEL COSTS

PERSONNEL
Agency /
Component

DOS – Main
OIG
AGENCY OVERALL

Number of “FullTime FOIA
Employees”

Number of
“Equivalent FullTime FOIA
Employees”

COSTS
Total Number of
“Full-Time FOIA
Staff”

Processing Costs

Litigation-Related
Costs

Total Costs

139

122.00

261.00

32,691,991.00

2,027,336.00

34,719,327.00

0.00

3.00

556,028.00

0.00

556,028.00

142

122.00

264.00

33,248,019.00

2,027,336.00

35,275,355.00

X. FEES COLLECTED FOR PROCESSING REQUESTS

Agency / Component

Total Amount of Fees Collected

Percentage of Total Costs

DOS – Main

0.00

0.0000

OIG

0.00

0.0000

AGENCY OVERALL

0.00

0.0000

XI.A. NUMBER OF TIMES SUBSECTION (C) USED

Agency / Component

Number of Times Subsection Used

DOS – Main

OIG

AGENCY OVERALL

XI.B. NUMBER OF SUBSECTION (A)(2) POSTINGS

Agency / Component

Number of Records Posted by the FOIA Office

DOS – Main
OIG
AGENCY OVERALL

Number of Records Posted by Program Offices

125,434

110

125,544

XII.A. BACKLOGS OF FOIA REQUESTS AND ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS

Agency / Component

Number of Backlogged Requests as of End of Fiscal Year

DOS – Main
OIG
AGENCY OVERALL

Number of Backlogged Appeals as of End of Fiscal Year

21,473

126

142

21,615

126

XII.B. CONSULTATIONS ON FOIA REQUESTS — RECEIVED, PROCESSED, AND PENDING CONSULTATIONS

Agency /
Component

DOS – Main
OIG
AGENCY OVERALL

Number of Consultations
Received from Other
Agencies that were Pending
at the Agency as of Start of
the Fiscal Year

Number of
Consultations Received from
Other Agencies During the
Fiscal Year

248

232

258

222

251

241

267

225

Number of Consultations
Received from Other
Agencies that were
Processed by the Agency
During the Fiscal Year

Number of Consultations
Received from Other
Agencies that were Pending
at the Agency as of End of
the Fiscal Year

XII.C. CONSULTATIONS ON FOIA REQUESTS — TEN OLDEST CONSULTATIONS RECEIVED FROM OTHER AGENCIES AND
PENDING AT THE AGENCY

Agency /
Component

10th Oldest
Consultation
Date

DOS – Main

Number
of Days
Date

OIG
AGENCY
OVERALL

Number
of Days
Date
Number
of Days

Oldest
Consultation

9th

8th

7th

6th

5th

4th

3rd

2nd

2020-02-20

202001-07

201907-03

201906-05

2018-10-16

1,158

1,188

1,315

1,335

1,494

N/A

202405-01

202202-17

2021-09-29

108

664

760

2020-02-20

202001-07

201907-03

201906-05

2018-10-16

1,158

1,188

1,315

1,335

1,494

XII.D.(1). COMPARISON OF NUMBERS OF REQUESTS FROM PREVIOUS AND CURRENT ANNUAL REPORT — REQUESTS
RECEIVED AND PROCESSED

NUMBER OF REQUESTS RECEIVED
Agency /
Component
DOS – Main
OIG
AGENCY OVERALL

NUMBER OF REQUESTS PROCESSED

Number Received During
Fiscal Year from Last Year's
Annual Report

Number Received During
Fiscal Year from Current
Annual Report

15,646

22,171

12,536

20,693

135

15,713

22,306

12,576

20,775

Number Processed During
Fiscal Year from Last Year's
Annual Report

Number Processed During
Fiscal Year from Current
Annual Report

XII.D.(2). COMPARISON OF NUMBERS OF REQUESTS FROM PREVIOUS AND CURRENT ANNUAL REPORT — BACKLOGGED
REQUESTS

Agency / Component

Number of Backlogged Requests as of End of the
Fiscal Year from Previous Annual Report

DOS – Main
OIG
AGENCY OVERALL

Number of Backlogged Requests as of End of the
Fiscal Year from Current Annual Report

21,533

21,473

142

21,619

21,615

XII.E.(1). COMPARISON OF NUMBERS OF ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS FROM PREVIOUS AND CURRENT ANNUAL REPORT —
APPEALS RECEIVED AND PROCESSED

NUMBER OF APPEALS RECEIVED
Agency /
Component
DOS – Main
OIG
AGENCY OVERALL

NUMBER OF APPEALS PROCESSED

Number Received During
Fiscal Year from Last Year's
Annual Report

Number Received During
Fiscal Year from Current
Annual Report

415

633

521

762

416

634

525

763

Number Processed During
Fiscal Year from Last Year's
Annual Report

Number Processed During
Fiscal Year from Current
Annual Report

XII.E.(2). COMPARISON OF NUMBERS OF ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS FROM PREVIOUS AND CURRENT ANNUAL REPORT —
BACKLOGGED APPEALS

Agency / Component

Number of Backlogged Appeals as of End of the
Fiscal Year from Previous Annual Report

DOS – Main
OIG
AGENCY OVERALL

Number of Backlogged Appeals as of End of the Fiscal
Year from Current Annual Report

262

126

272

126