FOIA Fix Act

The FOIA Fix Act (S. 4401) proposes to restrict certain foreign individuals and organizations from using the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to access U.S. government records. Specifically, it would prohibit federal agencies from releasing information to entities headquartered in or controlled by the governments of China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, Cuba, Syria, and Venezuela.

For the average citizen, this bill aims to prevent foreign adversaries from utilizing a transparency tool designed for the American public to gather sensitive government data. Additionally, the legislation establishes legal penalties for anyone who knowingly assists a prohibited foreign entity in making a FOIA request. Currently, the bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary for further consideration.