Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and E-FOIA

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is a Federal statute that allows any person the right to obtain Federal agency records, unless the records (or part of the records) are protected from disclosure by any of the nine exemptions contained in the law. On October 2, 1996, the President signed into law the Electronic Freedom of Information Act Amendments of 1996 (E-FOIA). E-FOIA makes it possible for individuals to have electronic access to certain USDA information without making a formal FOIA request. Information may be located by performing a word search, Browse by Audience, or Browse by Subject at the column located on the left side of this page. There is additional information which is available by subject located on the right side of this page.

How to make a FOIA/Privacy Act Request

In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and USDA regulations (7 Coded of Federal Regulations, Part 1, Subpart A), any person can request access to Rural Development records. The following are the agencies which constitute USDA Rural Development: (1) Rural Housing, (2) Rural Business-Cooperative Service, and (3) Rural Utilities Service.

Requests should be made in writing to the appropriate Rural Development FOIA/Privacy Act Coordinator in the state where the records reside; or to the Rural Development FOIA/Privacy Act Officer in Washington, D.C., if the records reside either in the National Office or in the Finance Office in St. Louis, MO. If you are not sure where the requested records reside, contact the Washington, D.C., FOIA Officer/Privacy Act Officer. Requests may be sent by mail, e-mail, or fax. Privacy Act requests will not be accepted through email since a signature needs to be affixed to the request. Please indicate that you are making a request under the FOIA and/or Privacy Act. Include the mailing address to which the records should be sent. We also suggest that you provide your telephone number, so that USDA employees may contact you if needed, for clarification of your request.

USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT PRIMARY FOIA CONTACT IS:

USDA Rural Development
FOIA/Privacy Act/Torts Unit
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Stop 0742/Reporters Building 7th Floor
Washington, DC 20250-0706
TELEPHONE (202) 690-5394
Fax Number (202) 692-0034
Email: Ssd.foia@wdc.usda.gov

Requests for information pertaining to a specific state should be directed to the attention of the 'FOIA/Privacy Act Coordinator' and mailed to the appropriate USDA-Rural Development State Office, whose address is available below.