‘Still interested’? DOE moves to rein in FOIA work.

The Department of Energy faces a severe surge in Freedom of Information Act requests, driven largely by automated bots and repetitive filings that overwhelm its limited staff. This influx creates significant processing bottlenecks, hindering the agency’s ability to efficiently handle legitimate inquiries from the public. To address this crisis, the DOE is implementing strict measures to clear its backlog, including closing inactive cases and requiring requesters to reaffirm their interest. These administrative actions aim to streamline operations and reduce the volume of non-productive requests that contribute to delays. This situation highlights critical challenges in open data governance, particularly regarding system integrity and resource allocation. It underscores the need for robust mechanisms to filter out automated noise, ensuring that transparency initiatives remain sustainable and effective for genuine public interest.

Source: eenews.net
Published on 2025-08-15

‘Still interested’? DOE moves to rein in FOIA work.

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