PROJECT FOR PRIVACY AND SURVEILLANCE ACCOUNTABILITY, INC. v. NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY et al, plus case descriptions

We have added 122 documents from 14 FOIA cases filed between June 19, 2022 and June 25, 2022. Note that there can be delays between the date a case is filed and when it shows up on PACER. If there are filings from this period that have yet to be posted on PACER, this FOIA Project list may not be complete.

Click on a case title below to view details for that case, including links to the associated docket and complaint documents.

1. PROJECT FOR PRIVACY AND SURVEILLANCE ACCOUNTABILITY, INC. v. NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY et al (filed Jun 24, 2022)
   The Project for Privacy and Surveillance Accountability submitted FOIA requests to the National Security Agency, the CIA, the Department of Justice, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence for records concerning members and former members of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees. The agencies acknowledged receipt of the request. The NSA and several other agencies issued a Glomar response neither confirming nor denying the existence of records. The Department of Justice referred the request to its National Security Division for response. After hearing nothing further from the agencies, PPSA filed suit.
   Issues: Litigation – Attorney’s fees, Adequacy – Search, Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation – Vaughn index
2. Stroud v. Federal Bureau of Prisons (filed Jun 21, 2022)
   Marcus Stroud submitted a FOIA request to the Bureau of Prisons for records concerning an index of administrative remedies for the northeast regional office. Stroud also requested a fee waiver. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request but after hearing nothing further from the agency, Stroud filed suit.
   Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation – Attorney’s fees
3. Gallatin Yellowstone Wilderness Alliance v. United States Forest Service (filed Jun 19, 2022)
   Gallatin Yellowstone Wilderness Alliance submitted a FOIA request to U.S. Forest Service for records concerning the Hyalite Porcupine Buffalo Horn Wilderness Study Area. The agency did not acknowledge receipt of the request. GYWA then filed suit.
   Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation – Attorney’s fees
4. HERITAGE FOUNDATION et al v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (filed Jun 21, 2022)
   The Heritage Foundation submitted FOIA request to the Department of Homeland Security for records concerning the investigation of allegations of whipping by Customs and Border Protection agents. The agency acknowledged receipt of the requests. The agency told the Heritage Foundation that it found no responsive records. The Heritage Foundation filed an administrative appeal. The agency granted the Heritage Foundation’s appeal by remanding the request for further processing. After hearing nothing further from the agency, the Heritage Foundation filed suit.
   Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy – Search, Litigation – Attorney’s fees
5. COLLINS LEE v. UNITED STATES TREASURY DEPARTMENT (filed Jun 22, 2022)
   Charlene Collins Lee submitted a FOIA request to the Department of Treasury for records. After the agency failed to respond, Lee filed suit.
   Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit
6. Western Resources Legal Center v. United States Department of Agriculture et al (filed Jun 22, 2022)
   The Western Resources Legal Center submitted FOIA requests to the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Interior for records concerning the 2021 River Democracy Act. The agencies acknowledged receipt of the requests but after hearing nothing further from the agencies, WRLC filed suit.
   Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy – Search, Litigation – Vaughn index, Litigation – Attorney’s fees
7. Doug Ecks v. U.S. Department of Education (filed Jun 23, 2022)
   Doug Ecks submitted a FOIA request to the Department of Education for records concerning a memo from the agency concerning debt forgiveness and related emails. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request. After the agency failed to respond, Ecks filed an administrative appeal. After hearing nothing further from the agency, Ecks filed suit.
   Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation – Recovery of Costs
8. Rocky Mountain Mobile Medical v. United States Air Force Academy (filed Jun 23, 2022)
   Rocky Mountain Mobile Medical submitted a FOIA request to the U.S. Air Force Academy for records concerning contracting actions for medical ambulance services administered by the academy. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request, but after hearing nothing further from the agency, Rocky Mountain Mobile Medical filed suit
   Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Public Interest Fee Waiver, Litigation – Attorney’s fees
9. COMMITTEE OF 100, INC. v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE et al (filed Jun 23, 2022)
   The Committee of 100, which advocates for Asians, submitted two FOIA requests one to the Department of Justice and the other to the FBI for records concerning the investigation of date crimes and to assist hate crime victims. The Committee of 100 also requested expedited processing. The agencies acknowledged receipt of the requests. The FBI denied the Committee’s request for expedited processing. After hearing nothing further from the agencies, the Committee of 100 filed suit.
   Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation – Attorney’s fees, Adequacy – Search
10. American Immigration Council et al v. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services et al (filed Jun 23, 2022)
    The American Immigration Council and the International Refugee Assistance Project submitted FOIA requests to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for records concerning the processing of humanitarian parole for Afghan nationals since January 2021. AIC and IRAP also requested expedited processing. The agency acknowledged receipt of the requests but after hearing nothing further from the agency, AIC and IRAP filed suit.
    Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy – Search, Litigation – Attorney’s fees
11. Energy and Policy Institute v. Tennessee Valley Authority (TV2) (filed Jun 23, 2022)
    The Energy and Policy Institute submitted a FOIA request to the Tennessee Valley Authority for records concerning the agency’s involvement with outside lawyers at Woods McGuire. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request. The agency disclosed records but withheld others under Exemption 4 (commercial and confidential) and Exemption 5 (privileges). EPI filed an administrative appeal. TVA upheld its original decision. EPI then filed suit.
    Issues: Litigation – Vaughn index, Litigation – Attorney’s fees
12. PROTECT THE PUBLIC'S TRUST v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (filed Jun 24, 2022)
    Protect the Public’s Trust submitted a FOIA request to the Department of Education for records concerning waivers and determinations exempting political appointees from the Biden ethics requirements. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request. After hearing nothing further from the agency, PPT filed suit.
    Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation – Vaughn index, Litigation – Attorney’s fees
13. FREUDENTHAL v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE et al (filed Jun 24, 2022)
    Emmanuel Freudenthal, a free-lance journalist covering issues in Africa, submitted a FOIA request to the Department of Defense for records concerning U.S. support to Cameroon’s military. The agency acknowledged receipt of the requests. After the agency failed to respond, Freudenthal filed administrative appeals. After hearing nothing further from the agency, Freudenthal filed suit.
    Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy – Search, Litigation – Vaughn index, Litigation – Attorney’s fees
14. MORRISON URENA, L.C. v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE (filed Jun 24, 2022)
    The law firm of Morison Urena submitted a FOIA request to the Department of State for records concerning the implementation of the diversity visa program. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request but after the agency failed to respond, Morison Urena filed suit.
    Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy – Search, Litigation – Attorney’s fees