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Freedom of Information Act

The Freedom of Information Act Program (DODR 5400.7) allows the general public including foreign citizens, military and civilian personnel acting as private citizens, to request records electronically or in writing from the Federal Government. Some records are released to the public under the Freedom of Information Act, and may therefore reflect deletion of some information in accordance with the FOIA's nine statutory exemptions or two law enforcement record exclusions. A consolidated list of such records is on the FOIA website and the U.S. Air Force FOIA site. Currently the law allows 20 working days to process a FOIA request upon receipt of the request in the FOIA office.

Who Can Submit a FOIA Request

Members of the public, including foreign citizens, military and civilian personnel acting as private citizens, organizations and businesses, and individual members of the Congress for themselves or constituents, may request records in writing.

It is important to remember that FOIA only applies to federal agencies. It does not create a right of access to records held by Congress, the courts, state or local government agencies, or by private businesses or individuals. Each state has its own public access laws that should by consulted for access to state and local records.

How to make a FOIA request

FOIA requests can be submitted and tracked online through the AF eFOIA Public Access Link. Before submitting a request, see if the records are available to the public in the AF FOIA Reading Room.

For mail, e-mail or fax requests for AFSEC records, use the "FOIA Office" contact information and ensure the request and envelope are marked "FOIA."

Regardless of the submission method, describe the requested records as specifically as possible to narrow the search. Furnish any facts or clues about the time, place, persons, events, subjects, contract number or other details that will help decide where to search and determine what records pertain to your request. That can save you and the government time and money, and you may get what you want faster. You must also provide the fee amount you are willing to pay for administrative processing.

FOIA Office Contact

AFSEC Freedom of Information Act Office AFSEC/JAR
9700 G. Ave
Kirtland AFB, NM 87117

Comm:(505) 853-8794
DSN: 263-8794
Fax:  (505) 853-8581
Fax DSN: 263-8581
Email:  HQAFSECJA@us.af.mil

All requests for information are handled through the FOIA process.

Students making requests please submit your question to the organizational box first before making a FOIA request. 

 

 

FOIA Request Fees

The FOIA allows fee charges based on a requester's category. There are three categories: commercial (pay search, review, and reproduction fees); educational, non-commercial scientific institution and news media (pay reproduction fees; first 100 pages provided at no cost); and others (pay search and reproduction fees; first two hours search and 100 pages provided at no cost).

Fee Waivers - If you are advised or expect that a fee will be charged, you may request in writing a waiver of those fees if the disclosure of the requested information is in the public interest because it is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of the operations and activities of the government and is not primarily in the commercial interest of the requester. The mere fact that you are a non-profit organization or a member of the media does not in and of itself qualify for a fee waiver. In addition, a requester's inability to pay is not a legal basis for granting a fee waiver.

Release of E-mail Addresses

Air Force policy is to deny requests for lists of e-mail addresses (both personal and organizational) using FOIA exemption (b)(6). High (b)(2) is no longer to be used to protect internal information, the disclosure of which would risk circumvention of a statute or agency regulation. Because Department of Defense e-mail systems are to be used only for official and authorized purposes, the addresses are considered primarily internal. The regulations at issue that could be circumvented include DOD and AF regulations that require us to limit use of e-mail to authorized purposes, and to protect the security of your computer and information systems. Exemption (b)(6) protects information that if released would permit a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. This does not prohibit an organization from including a single e-mail address on a web page or in correspondence.

Privacy Act Request

If you or your designated representative are seeking records on yourself and the record is maintained/retrieved by your name or other identifier, this is a Privacy Act request. All written Privacy Act requests must be mailed or faxed directly to the appropriate Privacy Act systems manager identified in the system of records notice or the appropriate Requester Service Center.

Note:

Requesters, to include military and federal civilian employees, should not use government equipment, supplies, stationery, postage, telephones, or official mail channels to make FOIA or Privacy Act requests. Requests should be made through personal equipment or postal service

If dissatisfied with the response received from the FOIA Requester Service Center, you may contact the Air Force FOIA Public Liaison Office, at usaf.pentagon.saf-cio-a6.mbx.af-foia@mail.mil, (703) 614-8500.

Declassification

Mandatory Declassification Review: Executive Order 12958 allows you to request declassification of classified records. If you are only seeking a copy of a record or records that are currently classified, and would like the record reviewed for appropriate declassification and release, you should file a Mandatory Declassification Review request.

Mandatory declassification review is a provision of Presidential Executive Order 13526 that allows members of the public to request a mandatory declassification review of a classified document in order to obtain a releasable version of the document.

The desired document requested must be specified in sufficient detail that it can be readily located. The record in question may not be the subject of litigation. The mandatory declassification review process can be a very timely and in-depth, due to the classification of materials being reviewed by internal and outside agencies.  MDR decisions can be administratively appealed to the Headquarters Air Force/AAII (Mandatory Declassification Review) or Interagency Security Classification Appeals Panel (ISCAP). Requests for review and release of classified records under the MDR process can be made to:

Headquarters Air Force/AAII (Mandatory Declassification Review)
1000 Air Force Pentagon
Washington, DC 20330-1000
Email:  usaf.pentagon.saf-aa.mbx.mdr-workflow@mail.mil
Telephone: (703) 695-2226