“Litigation Under the Federal Open Government Laws 2010” is the latest edition of a classic handbook for Freedom of Information Act litigants. It provides an updated summary of the relevant case law and a discussion of many of the most commonly encountered issues and obstacles a FOIA litigator may face. Any FOIA requester or attorney who is contemplating a FOIA lawsuit will want to study it closely. The new edition was edited by Harry A. Hammitt, Ginger McCall, Marc Rotenberg, John A. Verdi, and Mark S. Zaid.
“These Guys: Cold War Stories told by Cold War Warriors” is an anthology of personal reminiscences from former members of the U.S. Air Force Security Service concerning their experiences in U.S. military and intelligence service. It was edited by Trish Schiesser.
“The Dangers of Dissent” by Ivan Greenberg explores the modern history of FBI domestic surveillance, bolstered by records obtained by the author through FOIA litigation. The book “traces the evolution of FBI spying from 1965 to the present through the eyes of those under investigation.”
Datasets and variables that do not align with Administration priorities, or might reflect poorly on Administration policy impacts, seem to be especially in the cross-hairs.
One month of a government shutdown is in the books, but how many more months will (or can) it go? Congress is paralyzed, but there are a few spasms of activity around healthcare and the prospects of a continuing resolution to punt this fight out until January or later.
At a period where the federal government is undergoing significant changes in how it hires, buys, collects and organizes data, and delivers, deeper exploration of trust in these facets as worthwhile.
Moving postsecondary education data collection to the states is the best way to ensure that the U.S. Department of Education can meet its legislative mandates in an era of constrained federal resources.