Home : National Security : Freedom of Information/Government Secrets

ACLU of Virginia to Argue for Strict Interpretation of FOIA Exemptions (09/14/2005)
RICHMOND, VA -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia will ask the state Supreme Court tomorrow to uphold a lower court decision allowing public access to informal ethical advice offered to judges by the Virginia Judicial Inquiry and Review Commission (JIRC).

Veterans' Group and ACLU Sue U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Over Refusal to Disclose Public Records on Healthcare Budgets (07/13/2005)
PITTSBURGH -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania today filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of a veterans' group claiming that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' refusal to release records regarding controversial health service cutbacks and local hospital closures, unless the group pays more than $17,000 in fees, violates the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

ACLU of Southern California Sues DHS Secretary Chertoff Over Free Speech Rights for Federal Air Marshals (04/21/2005)
LOS ANGELES -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California today filed a lawsuit on behalf of Air Marshal Frank Terreri, who is seeking a ban on Federal Air Marshal Service rules that prohibit him from speaking publicly about his job or saying anything in connection with the Air Marshal Service.

ACLU Challenges Government's Use of Secrecy to Avoid Accountability in National Security Whistleblower Case (04/21/2005)
WASHINGTON -- During closed oral arguments today before the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, the American Civil Liberties Union challenged the government's ""radical theory"" that every aspect of FBI whistleblower Sibel Edmonds' case involved state secrets and therefore could not go forward. The ACLU also filed an emergency motion last night, along with other public interest groups and media outlets, challenging the court's decision to close the courtroom to members of the press and the general public.

ACLU Files Emergency Motion to Open Hearing in Case of FBI Whistleblower Sibel Edmonds (04/20/2005)
WASHINGTON -- The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of the National Capital Area today filed an emergency motion to open the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals to the public during oral arguments tomorrow in a hearing over the termination of FBI whistleblower Sibel Edmonds. Several media outlets filed a separate emergency motion.

ACLU Seeks Records on Use of Patriot Act to Deny U.S. Entry to Prominent Foreign Scholars (03/16/2005)
NEW YORK -- Citing a serious and growing threat to academic freedom, the American Civil Liberties Union today filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for records concerning the government's practice of excluding scholars and other prominent individuals from the U.S. because of their political views.

ACLU Joins Bipartisan Allies in Calling for More Open Government; Much-Needed Measure Would Strengthen Freedom of Information Act (03/15/2005)
WASHINGTON - Citing a growing concern over efforts by the government to over-classify and shield information from the public, the American Civil Liberties Union today urged a Senate committee to enact a bipartisan proposal designed to increase the transparency of the government by strengthening the Freedom of Information Act.

ACLU Lauds Introduction of Cornyn-Leahy 'OPEN Government Act,' Much-Needed Measure Would Increase Transparency, Access to Records (02/16/2005)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today applauded the introduction of a measure, sponsored by Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT), designed to increase the transparency of the government by strengthening the Freedom of Information Act.

ACLU Offers Legal Counsel to Government Whistleblowers; Calls on Congress to Adopt Whistleblower Protection Legislation (09/09/2004)
WASHINGTON-At a press conference held by prominent government whistleblowers, the American Civil Liberties Union today announced that it will provide legal counsel to federal employees who may want to come forward to expose government wrongdoing or cover-ups.

Through Gag Orders and Secret Evidence, Government Is Suppressing Information About Controversial Patriot Act Powers, ACLU Charges (08/19/2004)
NEW YORK - The government is using gag orders and secret evidence to keep the public in the dark about its use of the Patriot Act to investigate Americans, the American Civil Liberties Union said today.

Government Agency Releases Documents on "No Fly" List; ACLU Says Many Questions Still Remain Unanswered (07/22/2003)
SAN FRANCISCO - The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California today said there were ""troubling inadequacies"" with the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) management of its ""no fly"" list following a review of documents that were recently released under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Privacy Act.

ACLU Leadership Meets With Justice Department Inspector General To Inquire About Long-Overdue Report on Detainee Abuses (05/09/2003)
WASHINGTON - Seeking answers as to why the Justice Department is sitting on a high-profile report containing details about potential abuses of the detainees held after 9/11, the head of the American Civil Liberties Union and its chief lobbyist today met with the cabinet department's Inspector General.

ACLU Presses for Full Disclosure on Government's New Snoop Powers (01/17/2003)
NEW YORK - The American Civil Liberties Union today said it was disappointed but not surprised by the government's meager response to a request for information about the FBI's use of new powers to snoop on innocent citizens and that it may soon return to court to obtain documents the government is withholding.

ACLU of Northern CA Seeks Government Accountability Regarding Federal "No Fly" List (12/12/2002)
SAN FRANCISCO - The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California today filed requests under the Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act seeking information about the government's "no fly list" and other government watch lists.

ACLU Hails Victories In New Homeland Security Bill: Operation TIPS, National ID Rejected By Congress (11/13/2002)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today applauded several provisions in the latest homeland security bill -- including those that would prohibit the implementation of the controversial Operation TIPS program and reject a national ID card -- as victories for civil liberties.

ACLU Urges Continued Oversight, Additional Disclosures (10/17/2002)
WASHINGTON - In response to today's release of the Department of Justice's answers to questions submitted by House Judiciary Chairman James Sensennbrenner (R-WI) and Ranking Member John Conyers (D-MI) about the implementation of the USA Patriot Act, the American Civil Liberties Union gave the following statement:

ACLU Says Freedom of Information Act Exemptions For Private Industry Would Endanger Public Safety (07/24/2002)
WASHINGTON - Citing examples of information that could be exempted from Freedom of Information Act disclosure under legislation to establish the cabinet-level homeland security agency, the American Civil Liberties Union today said that these ""critical infrastructure"" provisions would endanger public safety. 

In First Lawsuit Filed Regarding Mass Detentions, Civil Liberties Groups Demand Release of Essential Information Under FOIA (12/05/2001)
WASHINGTON -- Citing the government's continuing refusal to adequately respond to previous inquiries, a group of civil liberties, civil rights and human rights organizations today filed the first lawsuit requesting the disclosure of basic information about those individuals arrested and detained since September 11. 

ACLU Joins Coalition in Filing FOIA Lawsuit on Detainees (12/05/2001)
WASHINGTON -- What happened on September 11th was terrible and tragic. No one questions the government's right - indeed, its responsibility - to conduct a thorough and complete investigation. We share a common goal in finding those responsible for the September 11th attacks and preventing future attacks. 

ACLU Joins in FOIA Request for Information On Detainees, Says Government Has Refused to Answer Previous Inquiries (10/29/2001)
WASHINGTON -- Saying it felt compelled by the government's refusal to answer its previous inquiries, the American Civil Liberties Union today joined with a coalition of civil liberties, human rights and electronic privacy organizations in filing a Freedom of Information Act request for information about the individuals arrested or detained since September 11.