Interactions and Public Engagements
FOIA Ombudsman Highlights Key Events and Meetings in 2020-2025
The Office of Government Information Services (OGIS), the body overseeing the FOIA Ombudsman function, recently held its annual meeting on July 23, 2025, marking the most recent event in their calendar. The virtual gathering, known as the OGIS Annual Meeting, was opened by Jay Trainer, COO of the National Archives, and Alina M. Semo, Director of OGIS.
In addition to this event, OGIS has been actively engaged in various other activities aimed at promoting understanding among stakeholders and improving the FOIA process. Here's a look at some of the key meetings and events that have taken place in the past few years:
- 2020: The year kicked off with the Chief FOIA Officers Council Meeting on October 14. In September, the FOIA Advisory Committee Meeting was held twice, on the 9th and 11th.
- 2021: The year began with the National Archives Sunshine Week Program on March 15. On May 6, there was an event focused on "Finding a Needle in a Haystack: Enterprise-wide FOIA Searches at CDC". The OGIS Annual Open Meeting took place on May 12, and on June 29, the OGIS Annual Meeting was held.
- 2022: The year started with the FOIA Advisory Committee Meeting on January 14. On February 9-10, the NexGen FOIA Tech Showcase took place. In November, both the Chief FOIA Officers Council Meeting and the FOIA Advisory Committee Meeting were held on the 3rd and 14th, respectively. The due date for RFI submissions for the FOIA Tech Showcase was set for November 23.
- 2023: The year began with the FOIA Advisory Committee Meeting on March 3. In March, OGIS hosted a Sunshine Week Program. Later in the year, on June 13, the OGIS Annual Open Meeting took place.
- 2024: OGIS hosted a series of FOIA Advisory Committee Meetings throughout the year, including those on March 13, June 12, December 5, September 13, September 9, July 24, April 4, April 17, May 9, and May 14 & 15. The year also saw the hosting of the NexGen FOIA Tech Showcase 2.0 on May 14 & 15, and the Ombuds Day on July 24.
OGIS's work with requesters, civil society organisations, agency FOIA professionals, and Congress helps improve understanding of issues, expand visibility in the FOIA community, and identify recommendations to improve the FOIA process. By hosting various events and meetings, OGIS continues to play a crucial role in fostering open government and transparency.
The work of OGIS, including hosting events and meetings like the OGIS Annual Open Meeting, FOIA Advisory Committee Meetings, and the NexGen FOIA Tech Showcase, falls under policy-and-legislation and general-news, reflecting the organization's role in promoting transparency and improving the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. Engaging with requesters, civil society organizations, agency FOIA professionals, and Congress, OGIS's activities contribute significantly to politics by advocating for open government.
