Some federal law enforcement agencies have been reluctant to give up information, even the simplest of information. So this is very welcome. But still, I’m attaching a wait-and-see caveat to this.
Attorney Gen. Eric Holder on Thursday announced “comprehensive new Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) guidelines… that direct all executive branch departments and agencies to apply a presumption of openness when administering the FOIA.”
“By restoring the presumption of disclosure that is at the heart of the Freedom of Information Act, we are making a critical change that will restore the public’s ability to access information in a timely manner,” Holder said in a prepared statement. “The American people have the right to information about their government’s activities, and these new guidelines will ensure they are able to obtain that information under principles of openness and transparency.”
We shall see.
