The Federal Records Act (FRA), the Privacy Act (PA), and the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) form the backbone of federal information governance.
This is how the U.S. government governs its information.
These laws define how information is created, protected, and shared. More importantly, they establish the structure that supports transparency, accountability, and public trust.
The Three Pillars
Each law plays a distinct and essential role.
Privacy Act
The Privacy Act safeguards personal data held by federal agencies. It ensures that individuals’ information is collected, used, and disclosed responsibly, while giving people the right to access and correct their own records.
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
FOIA empowers the public to request access to government records. It reinforces transparency by ensuring that agencies remain open and accountable to the people they serve.
Federal Records Act (FRA)
The Federal Records Act ensures that federal records are properly created, maintained, and preserved. It provides the structure needed to document government actions and maintain institutional accountability.
More Than Compliance
These laws are not just bureaucratic requirements.
They are essential to a functioning democracy.
Together, they enable citizens to:
- Stay informed about government actions
- Protect their personal rights and data
- Hold institutions accountable
They ensure that information is not only accessible, but also reliable and responsibly managed.
One Mission
When these laws work together, they serve a single, unified purpose:
To build and maintain public trust through responsible information governance.
This is the mission at the heart of federal information management.
It is what connects transparency, privacy, and accountability into a cohesive system.
And it is what ensures that government not only operates effectively, but earns the trust of the public it serves.
