FOIA staffing cuts endanger future of government transparency

Published May 18, 2025 8:00am ET



Staffing cuts to public records teams under the Trump administration have raised concerns about the federal government’s ability to respond to information requests and maintain accountability.

President Donald Trump has frequently claimed his administration is the “most transparent in history.” But several agencies have come under scrutiny after the elimination of entire offices responsible for Freedom of Information Act requests that already faced persistent backlogs.

Already a print subscriber? Click here to login/register your account

Trusted reporting.Unlimited access.

Subscribe for full access to Washington Examiner coverage, expert political analysis, and subscriber-only journalism.

Get Unlimited Access

Already a member? Log in

Cancel anytime.