● Covered by 1 source · 1 reportLow impact1 negative
Federal FOIA processes disrupted by staff cuts and broken portals
Key points
- Over 600 government information specialists resigned or were fired since early 2025.
- OPM's FOIA backlog increased sevenfold to over 1,600 requests by late 2025.
- Average FOIA processing time at OPM doubled to over 84 days.
- A federal vendor's portal for FOIA requests remained broken for a month.
Impact of Staff Reductions on FOIA Processing
Following staff cuts in early 2025, the process for filing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests at federal agencies, including the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), has become less efficient. More than 600 government information specialists, who administer FOIA and the Privacy Act, have resigned or been fired since the start of the second Trump administration. Within OPM, 12 information specialists left, with seven being laid off.
Increased Backlogs and Processing Times
The reduction in staff has directly impacted the ability of agencies to process FOIA requests. By the end of the 2025 fiscal year, OPM's FOIA backlog reached over 1,600 requests, which is seven times higher than the previous year. The average processing time for a simple request at OPM has doubled to over 84 days.
Dysfunctional Web Portals
The shift towards web portals for submitting requests has been problematic. A federal vendor responsible for a FOIA request portal left it broken for a month, further complicating the process for requesters. This issue, combined with abandoned email inboxes, has made submitting requests increasingly difficult.
Consequences for Public Information Access
The described changes indicate a significant decline in the accessibility and efficiency of federal FOIA processes. The increased backlogs, extended processing times, and technical failures in submission methods hinder the public's ability to obtain government records, impacting transparency and oversight.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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Reporting from
A journalist reports significant deterioration in the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request process at federal agencies, particularly the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), following staff reductions in early 2025. These cuts have led to increased backlogs, longer processing times, and dysfunctional web portals, hindering public access to government information.