When a government shutdown hits, FOIA operations often grind to a halt. But here’s the catch: the legal deadlines don’t.
- FOIA requires agencies to respond within 20 working days.
- Shutdowns aren’t exempted. The clock keeps ticking. However, after the shutdown…
- Records become harder to retrieve.
Privacy risks escalate.
- And yes, agencies can be sued!
For instance: during past shutdowns, requesters filed lawsuits over missed deadlines, delayed disclosures, and even alleged record destruction.
This is why when operations does resume, collaboration between FOIA Officers, Records Officers, and Privacy Officers (in my opinion) is absolutely mission critical.
Together, they can
- Triage backlogged requests
- Balance transparency with privacy
- Mitigate legal risks
- Restore public trust
Related reading: More insights from Dr. Moya Hill | Explore the Unified Information Governance Model
