Freedom of Information Act

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. Section 552, is a statute that provides a process by which every person may request access to federal agency records or information. Federal agencies, such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, are required to disclose records upon receiving a written request for them unless those records are protected from disclosure by any of the nine exemptions and three exclusions of the FOIA. The FOIA applies only to federal agencies and the records in its custody. The FOIA does not create an access to records held by Congress, the courts or by state and local governments. Any requests for state or local government records should be directed to the appropriate state or local government agency.

On this page, you will find:

• Text of the Freedom of Information Act
• EEOC's FOIA Reference Guide
• EEOC's FOIA Regulations codified at 29 C.F.R. Part 1610
• EEOC Order Number 150.001: Disclosure of Information Under the Freedom of Information Act
• FOIA Officers
• EEOC's Reading Room
• Annual Report
  • 2002 FOIA Annual Report
  • 2001 FOIA Annual Report
  • 2000 FOIA Annual Report
  • 1999 FOIA Annual Report
  • 1998 FOIA Annual Report
  • 1997 FOIA Annual Report
• Index

You may find the Reference guide to be of particular interest because it provides such basic information as:

• where and how to make a FOIA request
• the time for response
• fees and fee waivers
• responses to initial requests and
• how and where to file an appeal of a determination made on a FOIA request.

Additional Information

Privacy Act Overview

The Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. Section 552a, passed by Congress in 1974, establishes certain controls over what personal information is collected by the federal government and how it is used. The act guarantees three primary rights: (1) the right to see records about oneself, subject to the Privacy Act's exemptions; (2) the right to amend that record if it is inaccurate, irrelevant, untimely or incomplete; and (3) the right to sue the government for violations of the statute, including permitting others to see your records, unless specifically permitted by the act.

• Text of the Privacy Act
• EEOC's Privacy Act Regulations (29 C.F.R. Part 1611)
• Your Right to Federal Records
  This pamphlet is a joint publication of DOJ and the General Services Administration concerning both the FOIA and the Privacy Act.

Freedom Of Information Act Reference Guide

(Issued July, 1998 by the Office of Legal Counsel)

I. Introduction

II. Access to Certain Records Without a FOIA Request

III. Where to Make a FOIA Request

IV. How to Make a FOIA Request

V. Time for Response

VI. Expedited Processing

VII. Fees

VIII. Fee Waivers

IX. Initial Request Determination

X. Appeals

XI. Judicial Review

EEOC Contacts

Katherine Bissell, Esq.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

New York District Office

33 Whitehall Street

New York, New York 10004-2112