Federal Information Access Points: NARA's Freedom of Information Act Units and Public Representatives
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Presidential Records Act (PRA) play crucial roles in ensuring public access to government documents, particularly those related to U.S. Presidents. Here's a breakdown of how these laws affect different presidential libraries and records.
Presidential Libraries Subject to the PRA and FOIA --------------------------------------------------
These libraries, which include those of presidents from Herbert Hoover onwards, house official presidential records created or received by presidents starting from Hoover's administration. The PRA mandates that these records become the property of the U.S. government once a president leaves office and are managed by the National Archives.
Under the PRA, these records become available to the public for FOIA requests after a set period. Typically, this begins five years after the end of a president’s term, with a 30 or 12-year rule for access restrictions on certain sensitive records. For example, materials from the presidency of Donald Trump (2021–2025) will start being released or subject to FOIA on January 20, 2030.
The National Archives administers these libraries, guaranteeing public access to government documents by law (Title 44 United States Code). Staff at these libraries respond to FOIA requests and conduct declassification reviews as part of their duties, ensuring compliance with PRA and FOIA.
Presidential Libraries Not Subject to the PRA and FOIA -----------------------------------------------------
These libraries or collections do not hold official presidential records governed by the PRA, such as private papers or materials from presidents before the PRA was enacted or certain non-official collections. Since the PRA applies only to presidential records created after January 20, 1981 (starting with Reagan's administration), records or collections from earlier presidents may not be subject to the PRA's provisions.
Non-PRA libraries do not have the same federal mandate to make records available under FOIA, and access might be governed by different rules or private arrangements, often limiting public availability.
Key Differences ---------------
| Aspect | Libraries Subject to PRA and FOIA | Libraries Not Subject to PRA and FOIA | |-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------| | Records Covered | Official presidential records from 1981 onward (and some earlier ones under NARA administration) | Non-official papers, pre-PRA records without federal status | | Public Access | Governed by PRA with mandatory NARA management and FOIA access after set periods | Access governed by private or other rules, no PRA/FOIA obligation | | FOIA Requests | Records can be requested and reviewed under FOIA, with declassification reviews | FOIA does not apply, requests handled differently or not at all | | Administration | Managed by National Archives as official repositories | Managed privately or by other institutions without federal mandates |
In summary, the PRA and FOIA status primarily affects public transparency, legal access, and government custodianship of presidential records. For more information or to submit a FOIA request, contact the relevant service centre listed below.
Contact Information -------------------
- Hannah Bergman, the FOIA Public Liaison for NARA Operational Records, can be reached at [email protected]. - The Chief FOIA Officer at NARA (Acting) is Hannah Bergman. - The FOIA Public Liaison for Accessioned Executive Branch Agency Records is Rebecca Calcagno. - The FOIA Public Liaison for the NARA Office of Inspector General is William Brown. - For general FOIA inquiries, contact the NARA Office of General Counsel at 301-837-0344 (phone) and 301-837-0293 (fax). - To contact the FOIA requester Service Center for specific libraries, please refer to the table below.
| Library | FOIA Requester Service Center Telephone Number | |-----------------------------|-----------------------------------------------| | Barack Obama Presidential | 847-252-5799 | | Gerald R. Ford Library | 734-205-0555 | | Herbert Hoover Library | 319-643-5301 | | Lyndon B. Johnson Library | 512-721-0212 | | Franklin D. Roosevelt Library | 845-486-1142 | | John F. Kennedy Library | 617-514-1609 | | National Archives at Atlanta | 770-968-2100 | | National Archives at Boston | 781-663-0144 | | National Archives at Chicago | 773-948-9000 | | National Archives at Denver | 303-604-4740 | | National Archives at Fort Worth | 817-551-2051 | | National Archives at Kansas City | 816-268-8000 | | National Archives at New York | 212-401-1620 | | National Archives at Philadelphia | 215-305-2044 | | National Archives at Riverside | 951-956-2000 | | National Archives at San Francisco | 650-238-3501 | | National Archives at Seattle | 206-336-5115 | | National Archives at Washington, DC (Accessioned Executive Branch Agency Records) | 301-837-3190 | | National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) (non-archival Official Military Personnel Files) | 314-801-0800 | | George W. Bush Presidential Library | 214-346-1650 | | Harry S. Truman Library | 816-268-8272 | | Jimmy Carter Library | 404-865-7100 | | Nixon Presidential Materials Staff | 301-837-3290 | | Dwight D. Eisenhower Library | 785-263-6700 | | National Archives at New York (NARA Operational Records) | 301-837-3642 | | NARA Office of Inspector General's records | 301-837-3000 | | Civilian Official Personnel Folders | 314-801-9250 |
- The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and politics often intersect since FOIA requests are made to the National Archives, particularly in relation to presidential libraries that are subject to the Presidential Records Act (PRA).
- General news reports may delve into the release of official presidential records, as these records become available to the public via FOIA requests after a specific period, and their accessibility varies between libraries governed by the PRA and those not governed by it.