It’s not just you. The federal government has become less responsive and more stingy with FOIA requests across agencies and types of requests, according to Still Waiting
After All These Years:An in-depth analysis of FOIA performance from 1998 to 2006. The report author, Coalition of Journalists for Open Government headlines the findings:
Backlog: Two of every five requests filed in 2006 were not processed
Caseload: Requests fell for the second straight year, but the backlog still increased
Waiting Time: Long waits for information continue
Information Released: Full grants hit an all-time low
Appeals: Don’t bet on winning, the odds are against it
Costs, Efficiency: More spent on processing by fewer hands
FOIA Fees: Charges pay an insignificant part of the costs
Exemptions: Citations on the rise, particularly regarding law enforcement
Expedited Requests: No real gain for those not rejected outright
Apparently the federal government doesn’t fear its citizenry…