Sends FOIA Requests to 45 Federal Agencies Asking for All Correspondence

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW), the nation’s premier taxpayer watchdog organization, announced that it has sent Freedom of Information Requests (FOIA) to 45 federal agencies asking that they release all correspondence related to spending in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).  The letters read, in part:

This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act for a copy of the following documents:  

All correspondence – and the agency’s response – including letters, transcripts or summaries of telephone calls, as well as any e-mails or other electronic communications from Members of the House or Senate, officers of the House or Senate, committees of the House or Senate, or any staff members of the House or Senate to the agency regarding the expenditure of funds made available by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (PL 111-5) and transcripts, schedules, minutes and/or agendas of meetings between Members of the House or Senate, officers of the House or Senate, committees of the House or Senate or any staff member of the House or Senate with the agency regarding the expenditure of funds made available by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (PL 111-5).

On January 21, 2009, President Obama issued a memorandum announcing a new policy on responses to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests and pledging a new level of transparency in the federal government.  That memorandum stated, “the Freedom of Information Act should be administered with a clear presumption: In the face of doubt, openness prevails.  The Government should not keep information confidential merely because public officials might be embarrassed by disclosure” and that “nondisclosure should never be based on an effort to protect the personal interests of Government officials at the expense of those they are supposed to serve.”  The memorandum also instructed that “in responding to requests under the FOIA, executive branch agencies should act promptly and in a spirit of cooperation, recognizing that such agencies are servants of the public.”

“With that sentiment in mind, we are anticipating a prompt response to our requests for correspondence related to where the ARRA money is being spent and who is influencing those decisions,” said CAGW President Tom Schatz.  “ARRA was supposed to be free of congressional earmarking and taxpayers want to be certain that Congress doesn’t seek to direct federal spending after the fact.  CAGW will be keeping track of the results on our website going forward.”

Citizens Against Government Waste is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government.