CAGW’s FOIA Project

On February 17, 2009 President Obama signed an economic “stimulus” bill, formally known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).  More than $787 billion is slated to be spent through ARRA to help revive the economy.

Although the legislation was explicit in detailing the funding levels of the various programs, even the most casual observer of Washington’s political gamesmanship would be concerned that members of Congress would try to steer money to their home districts and states.  After 25 years in the trenches exposing waste, fraud and mismanagement, Citizens Against Government Waste shares those concerns.  In order to determine what kind of communication was occurring between Capitol Hill offices and the individual federal agencies charged with dispensing the ARRA funds, on May 12, CAGW sent Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to 44 federal agencies.

Specifically, the FOIA letter asked for:

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).

Each agency has 20 days to acknowledge receipt of the FOIA request.  As of May 29, CAGW has received 12 responses indicating that the agency has received the request.  Of the agencies that have responded, each one has done so in a different manner.  Some have called, others have e-mailed, while the others have mailed their responses.

So far, the only agency to send a full response has been the Department of Transportation.

After the information is collected, CAGW will publish the results of its findings.

President Obama campaigned on the promise of a new and transparent government.  Responding fully to CAGW’s FOIA requests would demonstrate the seriousness of that commitment.  Anything less would mean business as usual in Washington, DC.

— David Williams