HERITAGE FOUNDATION et al v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE et al and 19 other new FOIA lawsuits
We have added 142 documents from 20 FOIA cases filed between July 7, 2024 and July 13, 2024. 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.
- HERITAGE FOUNDATION et al v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE et al (filed Jul 9, 2024)
Heritage Foundation submitted two FOIA requests to the Department of Defense and OMB for records concerning medications dispensed on Air Force One. Both requests sought a fee waiver. The agencies acknowledged receipt of the requests but after hearing nothing further from the agencies, Heritage Foundation filed suit.
Issues: Litigation – Attorney’s fees, Adequacy – Search, Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation – Vaughn index - Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project Incorporated v. United States Department of Homeland Security et al (filed Jul 12, 2024)
Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project submitted a FOIA request to U.S. Customs and Border Protection for records concerning the investigation conducted of allegations of F.DF.M.’s allegation of tortious misconduct. FIRRP also requested expedited processing. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request and denied the request for expedited processing. After hearing nothing further from the agency, FIRRP filed suit.
Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy – Search, Litigation – Attorney’s fees - CATO INSTITUTE v. FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION et al (filed Jul 8, 2024)
Cato Institute submitted a FOIA request to the FBI for records concerning situational information reports produced by any Strategic Information Operation Centers established between January 1, 2020 and January 31, 2021. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request. The agency denied Cato Institute’s request for a fee waiver. The agency told Cato Institute that it had found 10,596 responsive pages and would release them at a cost of $325 for CDS or $524 for hard copies. After hearing nothing further from the agency, Cato Institute filed suit.
Issues: Adequacy – Search, Litigation – Attorney’s fees - AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE et al (filed Jul 8, 2024)
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals submitted FOIA requests to the Department of Agriculture for records concerning the violations of the Animal Welfare Act. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request but after hearing nothing further from the agency, ASPCA filed suit.
Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation – Attorney’s fees - AMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE v. DEPARTMENT OF STATE et al (filed Jul 8, 2024)
American Center for Law and Justice submitted FOIA requests to the Department of State and the Department of Defense for records concerning the White House decision to put a pause on support for Israel. The agencies acknowledged receipt of the requests. After hearing nothing further from the agencies, ACLJ filed suit.
Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy – Search, Litigation – Vaughn index, Litigation – Attorney’s fees - POWER THE FUTURE v. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (filed Jul 8, 2024)
Power the Future submitted a FOIA request to the Department of Interior for records concerning text messages from named senior officials. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request. After hearing nothing further from the agency, Power the Future filed suit.
Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation – Attorney’s fees - CATO INSTITUTE v. FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION et al (filed Jul 9, 2024)
Cato Institute submitted a FOIA request to the FBI for records concerning the National State Rights organization. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request. The agency located 6,949 pages and told Cato Institute it would cost $205 for CDs or $342 for hard copy pages. After hearing nothing further from the agency, Cato Institute filed suit.
Issues: Adequacy – Search, Litigation – Attorney’s fees - CENTER TO ADVANCE SECURITY IN AMERICA v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE (filed Jul 9, 2024)
Center to Advance Security in America submitted a FOIA request to the Department of State for records concerning meeting requests and calendar entries for named individuals related to various media communications. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request but after hearing nothing further from the agency, CASA filed suit.
Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation – Attorney’s fees - POWER THE FUTURE v. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (filed Jul 10, 2024)
Power the Future submitted a FOIA request to the EPA for records concerning correspondence with a named official over a five-month period. Power the Future also requested a fee waiver. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request. The agency denied Power the Future a fee waiver. Power the Future filed an administrative appeal of the denial of a fee waiver. After hearing nothing further from the agency, Power the Future filed suit.
Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation – Attorney’s fees - POWER THE FUTURE v. WHITE HOUSE COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (filed Jul 10, 2024)
Power the Future submitted a FOIA request to the Council on Environmental Quality for records concerning calendar invitations for one named official. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request but after hearing nothing further from the agency, Power the Future filed sui.
Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation – Attorney’s fees - POWER THE FUTURE v. WHITE HOUSE COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (filed Jul 11, 2024)
Power the Future submitted a FOIA request to the Council on Environmental Quality for records concerning correspondence with a senior official over a five-month period. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request but after hearing nothing further from the agency, Power the Future filed suit.
Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation – Attorney’s fees - MAJEED v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (filed Jul 12, 2024)
Mohammed Majeed submitted three FOIA requests to the Department of Defense for records on various subjects. The agency acknowledged receipt of the requests but after hearing nothing further from the agency, Majeed filed suit.
Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation – Attorney’s fees - GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY & OVERSIGHT v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (filed Jul 12, 2024)
Government Accountability & Oversight submitted a FOIA request to the Department of Energy for records concerning calendar invitations of three senior officials. GAO requested a fee waiver. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request. After hearing nothing further from the agency, GAO filed suit.
Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation – Attorney’s fees - CONNELL v. DEPARTMENT OF STATE (filed Jul 12, 2024)
James Connell submitted a FOIA request to the Department of State for records concerning the destruction of a Sunni Mosque in Iraq in 1994. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request but after hearing nothing further from the agency, Connell filed suit.
Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation – Attorney’s fees - ALIEV et al v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE et al (filed Jul 12, 2024)
Murat Aliev, and others submitted FOIA requests to the Department of State and Treasury. The agencies acknowledged receipt of the requests but after hearing nothing further from the agencies, Aliev filed suit.
Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation – Attorney’s fees - GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY & OVERSIGHT v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (filed Jul 13, 2024)
Government Accountability & Oversight submitted a FOIA request to the Department of Energy for records concerning specifically described liquified natural gas reports. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request but afte hearing nothing further from the agency, GAO filed suit.
Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation – Attorney’s fees - The State of Missouri ex rel Bailey v. Internal Revenue Service (filed Jul 12, 2024)
1. Andrew Bailey, Attorney General of Missouri, submitted FOIA requests to the IRS for records concerning guidance from the agency on the protection from tax scams. The agency acknowledged request of the request. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request but after hearing nothing further from the agency, Missouri filed suit.
Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation – Attorney’s fees - American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska v. United States Department of Homeland Security et al (filed Jul 9, 2024)
The ACLU of Nebraska submitted a FOIA request to U.S. Citizenship and immigration Services for records concerning the implementation of the Fremont and Scribner Ordinances. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request but after hearing nothing further from the agency, the ACLU of Nebraska filed suit.
Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation – Attorney’s fees - Advocates for the West v. Bonneville Power Administration (filed Jul 11, 2024)
Advocates for the West submitted a FOIA request to the Bonneville Power Administration for records concerning the E3 Study. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request. AFW agreed to narrow the scope of its request, but after hearing nothing further from the agency, AFW filed suit.
Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation – Attorney’s fees - American Immigration Council v. U.S. Department of State (filed Jul 12, 2024)
American Immigration Council submitted a FOIA request to the Department of State for records concerning refugees’ arrival data. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request, but after hearing nothing further from the agency, AIC file suit.
Issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy – Search, Litigation – Attorney’s fees
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