Rep. Issa’s Proposal to Track FOIA Requests Prompts Civil Liberties Concerns

The New York Times reports that Rep. Darrell Issa, new chair of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, has sent a letter to federal agencies asking them to compile a list of the names of those who have filed FOIA requests in the last five years and to document the status of the requests.   Rep. Issa asserts that he seeks to ensure that citizens’ requests for information get prompt  responses and are not impeded by political considerations.  However, the Times notes that some civil liberties advocates see danger in a system that would generate a comprehensive and centralized record of who has sought what information from the government.

JFB