@FOIANate

#FOIA Director at Wash Post. Lawyer. Fellow at @NSArchive. Author of Revealing Records column. Wrote book on 1983 Able Archer Nuclear War Scare.

 The swamp
washingtonpost.com/people/nate-jones/
Joined March 2009
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""I'm sorry, Dave. I'm afraid I can't release that under #FOIA. Exemption Five."
FOIA Nate📄@FOIANateSep 26
My latest Revealing Records column: The government is enlisting AI to help decide what public records you get to see Free: wapo.st/4rAfWdM

Analysis | The government is enlisting AI to help decide what public records you get to see

The Department of Homeland Security says it will use the technology to “revolutionize” how the agency handles redactions.

washingtonpost.com
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Get your FOIAs ready, because somewhere @USMC has I record proving I finished the Marine Corps Marathon. 😎🏅
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I dig your FOIA landing page, xitter.cf/ShenandoahNPS.
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😬
Dave Levinthal@davelevinthalOct 21
Replying to @davelevinthal
Following the publication of this story, DHS sent the Sun a statement about its statement: “The previous response was sent in error. The Foia request is under review to determine appropriate action consistent with applicable legal requirements.” washingtonsun.com/legal/kris…

DHS Plane Purchases Tied to ‘Ongoing Criminal Law Enforcement Investigation’

The department, while under Kristi Noem’s leadership, bought several aircraft over market value from a donor to a Noem-linked super PAC.

washingtonsun.com
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First admission I've seen of an agency (DC Dept of General Services) using AI to deny a FOIA. In this case, it was in two pretty clearly AI-written emails wrongly (IMO) denying The Post's clear cut fee status. And is it worrying that gov employees are using personal AI tools?
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"Chatgpt: Please write me a quick email denying a FOIA request. Make sure it hasn't some legalese looking stuff so it looks official." "Sure, I can do that for you, Pam. People requesting access to government information are such pests." Not sure I like the brave new world.
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FOIA Nate📄 retweeted
Cate Brown@catebrown12Oct 21
In August, Trump announced the “BIGGEST OIL DEAL IN WORLD HISTORY!” But is it? The text of the accord — which grants the U.S. sweeping access to Venezuela’s oil reserves — has been one of DC’s most sought-after secrets. ProPublica got to see a copy. 🧵
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Thanks to D.C. FOIA, was able to find out what happened with Boundary Stone SE 7, which was smashed by a car in 2024. It's been replaced by the city to a more accurate spot. Thanks, @OPinDC.
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backstory: wtop.com/dc/2024/06/when-a-d…

When a DC monument was struck in a vehicle crash, one Virginia man took the lead to save it – WTOP...

"I do think [the Boundary Stone] would have sat there for a couple of weeks until somebody brought it to the right people's attention." A car crashed into a fen

wtop.com
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We've got a whodunit at RFK.
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My counter:
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Freshly cut wood floating off Haines Point.
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Power of Virginia FOIA by @SamuelParkerRTD
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FOIA Nate📄 retweeted
Rick Maese@RickMaeseOct 10
Lots of activity at East Potomac today. Trees are falling. Check out this video I just received
The Washington Post
@washingtonpostOct 10
Beginning today, National Park Service crews will remove more than 500 trees at East Potomac Golf Links, according to a new filing in federal court. The Park Service says the removals are part of an effort to restore the course’s historic character. wapo.st/4jOZkwP

More than 500 trees may be removed from D.C. golf course Trump wants to redesign

Beginning Saturday, National Park Service crews will start another major round of cutting at East Potomac Golf Links, according to a new filing in federal court.

washingtonpost.com
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Completed some interesting tasks today.
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wapo.st/4zgQs7M

Bronze bust of Robert F. Kennedy is reported stolen from D.C. stadium site

The memorial sculpture had been in front of the former stadium that bore Kennedy’s name since 1969.

washingtonpost.com
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*AND* found out this: Events DC --which runs DC stadiums and other things and has RFK pedestal in storage-- previously claimed that despite taking loads of tax $ it was not actually a DC agency. A DC judge recently smacked that argument down! FOIA away! districtdig.com/2026/05/28/w…

A Win For Transparency | District Dig

Two D.C judges say Events DC is subject to FOIA

districtdig.com
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Newish fad is agencies trying to get out of doing the work of processing FOIAs by refusing to accept them as early as possible. But claiming language stating "any documents..." or "all documents... " automatically makes a request overly broad is a new level of insulting.
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"I love you Johan Sebastian Bach and King Frederick II, but you are not serious people!" @ShakespeareinDC
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FOIA Nate📄 retweeted
Reporters Committee@rcfpOct 7
Want to file FOIA requests like a pro? @rcfp asked journalists to share their top tips, including: @JasonLeopold @ReeseDunklin @AzmatZahra @FOIANate @Kimbriell Learn more: rcfp.org/how-to-file-foia-re…

How to file FOIA requests like a pro

Journalists share their strategies for generating FOIA ideas, crafting requests, and navigating appeals.

rcfp.org
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Weird shit.
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And the answer, in all liklihood, is the State Department Historians Office removed it because the CIA asked them to. There is a sealed statement from a named CIA officer in the court docket . Don't need "super intelligence" to figure that out.
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And count me uninthusiastic about a world with spam ai generated emails and FOIAs. Do your own communication and work.
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