FOIA Appeals and Mediation Services

As part of the 2007 FOIA amendments, the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) was created to offer mediation services to resolve disputes between FOIA requesters and Federal agencies as a non-exclusive alternative to litigation. Using OGIS services does not affect your right to pursue litigation. If you are requesting access to your own records (which is considered a Privacy Act request), you should know that OGIS does not have the authority to handle requests pertaining to the non-access provisions of the Privacy Act.

Information on requesting OGIS assistance.

You may contact OGIS in any of the following ways:
8601 Adelphi Road
College Park, MD 20740-6001
Twitter: @FOIA_Ombuds
E-mail: ogis@nara.gov
Web: www.ogis.archives.gov
Telephone: 202-741-5770
Facsimile: 202-741-5769
Toll-free: 1-877-684-6448

OGIS DHS Agency Assessments:

• Federal Emergency Management Agency's FOIA Program, Department of Homeland Security - September 18, 2015
• United States Coast Guard's FOIA Program, Department of Homeland Security - September 25, 2015
  • Coast Guard Response to 120 Day Response - January 27, 2016
• Transportation Security Administration's FOIA Program, Department of Homeland Security - January 11, 2016
  • Transportation Security Administration 120 Day Response - June 15, 2016
• Customs and Border Protection FOIA Program, Department of Homeland Security - March 9, 2016
• United States Secret Service FOIA Program, Department of Homeland Security - July 27, 2016

OGIS DHS Agency Compliance Assessments:

• OGIS Letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) regarding use of "still interested" letters
• OGIS Letter to Cause of Action regarding DHS/FEMA use of "still interested" letters

FOIA Appeals

DHS Office of General Counsel (OGC)

For information pertaining to submitting FOIA appeals please contact the DHS Office of General Counsel (OGC).

You may contact OGC in any of the following ways:
Office of the General Counsel
Department of Homeland Security
Mail Stop 3650
Washington, DC 20528
Email: ogc@hq.dhs.gov
Web: /office-general-counsel
Phone: 202-282-9822
Fax: 202-282-9186