If a requester files a FOIA request, they might receive three different answers.
Let's unpack all 3 responses…
A FOIA request is like asking a government agency to open a locked cabinet.
They might response in 3 different ways
1. Exemptions
“We have the files — but we can’t show them.”
Why? They contain sensitive info like
- National security secrets
- Personal privacy (e.g., medical records)
- Law enforcement techniques
- Trade secrets
An Example of this: A requester ask for FBI files on someone. The agency's response, “We have them, but we’re withholding parts to protect their privacy.”
- 2. Exclusions
“We found no records.”
This is used when
- Someone is under criminal investigation
- Someone is a confidential informant
- It’s an FBI intelligence file
An Example of this: A requester ask for records on someone under investigation. The agency replies, “We found no records,” even though they secretly did.
3. Glomar Response
“We can neither confirm nor deny the existence of records.”
Used when even admitting the file exists could reveal
- A spy mission
- Secret surveillance
- National security operations
An Example of this: A requester ask the CIA about a secret submarine project. They reply, “We can neither confirm nor deny the existence of records.”
Related reading: More insights from Dr. Moya Hill | Explore the Unified Information Governance Model
