The Freedom of Information Act ("FOIA"), 5 U.S.C. 552, provides individuals with a right to access to records in the possession of the federal government. The government may withhold information pursuant to the nine exemptions and three exclusions contained in the Act.
The Electronic FOIA ("E-FOIA") Amendments that were signed into law in 1996, amended FOIA in several ways.
To learn how to submit a FOIA request, visit http://www.nih.gov/icd/od/foia/index.htm#requests. For more information on FOIA, visit the NIH FOIA Website.