Blog Post

The Justice Department Recognizes FOIA Professionals During Sunshine Week

Friday, March 20, 2026

Share Courtesy of Office of Information Policy Director Sean Glendening

Statements from Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward and Office of Information Policy Director Sean Glendening:

“This is the most transparent Department of Justice in our nation’s history.  Unlike prior administrations, we are dedicated to improving FOIA processes and prioritizing citizens’ access to information about their government. This Sunshine Week, I want to recognize the efforts of each and every FOIA professional across the government. Despite the ever-increasing burden placed on these professionals by a small group of prolific requestors and litigants, they remain steadfast and diligent. Our FOIA professionals are the unsung heroes of democracy, and we honor them today.”

Stanley E. Woodward
Associate Attorney General
Chief FOIA Officer
Department of Justice

The primary mission of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is to keep the American people apprised and knowledgeable of the activities of their government.  James Madison famously stated “[a] popular Government, without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy; or, perhaps, both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance: And a people who mean to be their own Governors, must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives. ”  The dedicated FOIA professionals across the government work tirelessly every day to accomplish this important mission, and today we recognize and celebrate their efforts.

On July 4, 1966, the 190th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, President Lyndon Johnson signed into law the FOIA.  This year, as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration, the government’s commitment to the FOIA’s twin values of government transparency and the protection of sensitive governmental and private interests remain as strong as ever. The FOIA encapsulates the democratic ideal that transparency should be the general rule in government except where disclosure would foreseeably harm a legitimate interest.

Much has changed in the world of FOIA since 1966.  The dedicated FOIA professionals honored today know that well.  Today’s document requests yield a far greater volume of information than in President Johnson’s day, when a response consisted of little more than photocopying a few typewritten memoranda.

The level of public engagement with the FOIA, as demonstrated by the number of requests received and processed by federal agencies, is higher than at any time in history.  In a span of only three years between fiscal year 2021 and 2024, the number of FOIA requests received and processed by agencies nearly doubled.  Clearly, the public sees the FOIA as an effective means of learning more about the operations of their government.

However, a small group of frequent requesters accounts for an increasing volume of both total and complex FOIA requests.  This concentration forces agencies to divert a disproportionate share of limited resources away from the timely processing of simpler requests submitted by individual members of the public.  It is important to recognize this fact, particularly as we celebrate the work of those professionals whose workload continues to increase because of it. Those who work in the FOIA space know there is a constant struggle between keeping citizens informed and managing ever growing litigation and complex requests from a small group of requestors.

I applaud the work of all of our FOIA professionals and especially congratulate this year’s awardees.  Your efforts to keep all citizens informed despite ever growing demands are admirable.  Thank you for the work you do and congratulations on your awards.

Sean Glendening
Director, Office of Information Policy
Department of Justice

OIP is pleased to present the following 2026 Sunshine Week Awards:

Exceptional Service by a FOIA Professional or a Team of FOIA Professionals

This award recognizes exemplary performance by a FOIA professional or team of FOIA professionals in carrying out the agency’s administration of the FOIA.  This award recognizes those individuals or teams whose exceptional contributions have significantly benefited FOIA administration.  These benefits include increased efficiency, greater use of technology, reduced backlogs, improved timeliness, and increased proactive disclosures.  Exceptional Service awards are presented to:

1. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau FOIA Team
2. The Environmental Protection Agency’s FOIA Administrative Appeals Team

Exceptional Advancements in IT to Improve the Agency's FOIA Administration

This award recognizes exceptional achievements in making greater use of technology to make information more accessible.  These efforts include the implementation of new and advanced technologies to increase efficiencies as well as to improve proactive disclosures and the online availability of information.  Exceptional Advancements awards are presented to:

1. The Department of Homeland Security’s Privacy Office’s FOIA Division
2. The Department of State, Center for Analytics

Lifetime Service Award

This award recognizes an agency FOIA professional with at least 20 years of work in FOIA administration who has demonstrated high standards of excellence and dedication in the administration of the FOIA throughout their career.  Lifetime Service awards are presented to:

1. Tink Cooper, Deputy Chief, FOIA/PA, Civil Rights Division, Department of Justice
2. Cawana Pearson, Government Information Specialist, Office of Privacy, Transparency, and Records, Department of the Treasury
3. Tonya R. Fuentes, Chief, Freedom of Information Division, Privacy, Civil Liberties, and Transparency Directorate, Office of the Director of Administration and Management Updated March 20, 2026 Topic FOIA Components Office of Information Policy Office of the Associate Attorney General

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