TAG / FOIA

Former FOIA officer Connie Clay alleged repeated transparency violations before being fired. The settlement and legal defense costs pushed the taxpayer burden to nearly five times her initial $250,000 claim.

After losing in court, the government moves to rewrite transparency rules governing access to records tied to the premier’s office, despite strong public opposition.

Years of legislative emails were wiped under official policy, cutting off a critical line of inquiry into a $35,000 payoff.

Dr. David Cuillier says “secrecy creep” has steadily eroded US FOIA compliance over three decades, calling it a growing threat to democracy itself if left unchecked.

Research by Dr. David Cuillier and Dr. A. Jay Wagner shows public records are increasingly out of reach for citizens, nonprofits and journalists.

Connie Clay alleges she was fired for exposing repeated FOIA breaches and refusing to mislead the public. The city now faces mounting legal and financial consequences.

Landmark decision opens federal records behind the largest penalty ever imposed by the US Department of Education—a penalty later withdrawn entirely.

Despite repeated reform efforts, Michigan’s FOIA remains ineffective, leaving citizens and journalists blocked from accessing critical government records.

With bills stalled in committee and automatic deletion of digital records hindering transparency, Michigan’s reputation on open government suffers while advocates consider a pricey citizen petition to force reform.

Transparency advocates score a win as Georgia’s election board settles a public records case, mandating official accounts for all communications and ensuring open access under state law.