A proper Privacy Act Request is one in which the individual seeks records on himself that are contained in a file retrievable by the individual’s name or personal identifier. All Privacy Act Requests, to include amendment requests, must be submitted in writing, contain as much detail as possible to identify the information requested or amended, and contain the requester’s signature (a digital signature is required for all on-line submissions).

Submitting a Privacy Act Request - There are three convenient ways to submit a Privacy Act request (no special forms are required):

  • By postal service or other commercial delivery to:
    National Security Agency
    Attn: FOIA/PA Office (DJP4)
    9800 Savage Road, Suite 6248
    Ft. George G. Meade, MD 20755-6248

  • By facsimile to 443-479-3612
    Privacy Act requests submitted by facsimile are limited to 20 pages and should be marked to the attention of the FOIA/PA Office.

  • By electronic e-mail complete with a digital signature. This signature is required for all e-mail submissions. Requests without a digital signature will not be processed. Please include the following items in the body of your e-mail. You can "copy and paste" the following information.

    Full name:
    Company/Organization:
    Address
    City:
    State:
    Zip Code:
    Country:
    Home Phone:
    Work Phone:
    SSN: (optional)
    Description of the records you seek:

Average Processing Time - It is difficult to provide an “average” processing time, as requests vary in their scope and complexity. Actual processing time will depend upon how extensive a search is required; the complexity, volume, and sensitivity of the records located; the need for consultation among various offices within NSA/CSS, as well as the need to consult with other agencies having an interest in the material; and the number of cases preceding a request in the processing queue. Requests are processed on a “first-in, first-out” basis.

Expedited Treatment – A request will be expedited if the requester seeks such processing and demonstrates a compelling need, as defined by the FOIA, or a need for expedited treatment, as detailed in Department of Defense FOIA Regulation 5400.7-R. The requester seeking expeditious processing must provide a statement certified by him/her to be true and correct to the best of his/her knowledge.

Appeal Process – A requester has the right to file an administrative appeal if an adverse determination is made. Examples of adverse determinations are a denial of records or information within records, the inability of an agency to locate records, the determination that a request does not fall under the purview of this Agency, a denial of a waiver of fees, and a denial of expedited processing.

The FOIA/PA Office can be reached via phone at (301) 688-6527.