Electronic FOIA Reading Room

Electronic FOIA Amendments

The Electronic FOIA (E-FOIA) Amendments signed into law in 1996 amended the Freedom of Information Act, adding a requirement that agencies had to establish an electronic reading room. The reading room must include agency policy manuals, opinions made in the adjudication of cases, and an index of records released by FOIA that are likely to become the subject of subsequent FOIA requests.

In addition, E-FOIA:

1. Extends from 10 to 20 business days (excluding holidays) the time agencies have to respond to requests for information
2. Requires agencies to make reasonable efforts to make records available in the form desired by requesters
3. Requires agencies to submit the USDA FOIA Report by the fiscal year
4. Requires agencies to make the reports available to the public by computer telecommunications or other electronic means
5. Requires agencies to list their major information systems record locator system and a reference guide or guide for obtaining information
6. Requires that the provisions of the E-FOIA be implemented by specific dates

USDA Policy Manuals

The system is the online repository of all USDA Department Manuals, Regulations, Notices, and Memoranda.

• Policy Manuals

Final Opinions

• USDA Adjudicatory Opinions, Summary of Decisions

Frequently Requested Records: (PDFs)

• Government Information Locator System
• USDA Purchase Card Cardholders (Policy and Regulations)
• USDA Contracts/Purchase Orders Awarded to Public Relations & Advertising Firms (2001-2005)
• Hurricane Katrina Contracts by Agency
• USDA Conference Travel Transparency Reporting 2008-2011
• Quarterly High-Dollar Reporting
• Payment Accuracy
• Federal Spending Data Quality Plan
• Purchase Card Transaction Report
  • Report 1
  • Report 2
  • Report 3
  • Report 4
  • Report 5
  • Report 6
  • Report 7
  • Report 8
  • Report 9
  • Report 10
  • Report 11
  • Report 12

USDA Annual FOIA Reports

• 2011 - DOCX | XML;
• 2010 - DOCX | XML;
• 2009 - DOC | XML ; | Link to the Office of Information Policy (DOJ)
• 2008 (PDF;258Kb)
• 2007 (PDF;177Kb)
• 2006 (PDF;132Kb)
• 2005 (PDF;5.24 Kb)
• 2004 (PDF;108 Kb)
• 2003
• 2002
• 2001
• 2000

USDA Chief Freedom of Information Act Officer Report

• March 2013 (DOC: 1.3MB) | PDF: 800Kb)
• March 2012 (DOC: 421Kb) | PDF: 243Kb)
• March 2011 (PDF: 282Kb)
• March 2010 (DOC:408Kb) | PDF: 349Kb)