We determined that due to changes DHS made to the process, political appointees do not influence FOIA processors to delay or withhold the release of FOIA information. Unlike the former process, the new process does not provide opportunities for political appointees in headquarters to inappropriately interfere with releases of significant FOIA information, and we did not identify any instances in which headquarters officials used the process to engage in those activities. However, because DHS has not issued final guidance for the process, it is vulnerable to misuse in the future. We recommended that the Chief FOIA Officer/Chief Privacy Officer issue final guidance on the 1-Day Awareness Notification Process. The guidance should state: 1. the purpose of the process is to inform senior officials of the imminent release of information that may raise public interest; 2. FOIA staff determine whether information should be released or withheld under FOIA’s exceptions and exemptions.
| Report Date | Agency Reviewed / Investigated | Report Title | Type | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Homeland Security | DHS Review of Responses to Significant Freedom of Information Act Requests | Inspection / Evaluation | Agency-Wide | View Report | |
| Export-Import Bank | Report on EXIM Bank's Local Cost Policy and Procedures | Inspection / Evaluation |
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View Report | |
| Office of Personnel Management | National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Pharmacy 2012-2014 Ops Administered by CaremarkPCS Health L.L.C. | Audit | Agency-Wide | View Report | |
| Internal Revenue Service | The Internal Revenue Service is Underutilizing Form 1099-K Data to Identify Tax Returns for Audit | Audit | Agency-Wide | View Report | |
| Internal Revenue Service | Annual Assessment of the IRS Information Technology Program | Audit | Agency-Wide | View Report | |
| Internal Revenue Service | A Significantly Reduced Automated Substitute for Return Program Negatively Affected Collection and Filing Compliance | Audit | Agency-Wide | View Report | |
| Internal Revenue Service | Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration – Federal Information Security Modernization Act Report for Fiscal Year 2017 | Audit | Agency-Wide | View Report | |
| Department of Homeland Security | Whistleblower Retaliation Report of Investigation Regarding Alleged Reprisal Against a CBP Officer | Investigation | Agency-Wide | View Report | |
| U.S. Postal Service | Internal Controls Over Stamp Stock Shipments ― James Crews Station, Kansas City, MO | Audit | Agency-Wide | View Report | |
| Securities and Exchange Commission | Audit of the SEC’s Management of Its Data Centers, Report No. 543 | Audit | Agency-Wide | View Report | |