Where and How to Submit a Freedom of Information Act Request
The office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (OASCR) FOIA Office does not require a special form to make a FOIA request. Requests for existing records must be in writing, handwritten or typed, and submitted via mail, fax, or electronically.
Requests may be addressed to:
Ms. Shawn S. McGruder
Director, Office of Adjudication/USDA
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20250-9410
Requests can be submitted by the following:
Email: ascrfoia@ascr.usda.gov
eFax: 1-855-571-0055
Electronically: https://efoia-pal.usda.gov (USDA FOIA Public Access Website)
The more specific a request is (dates, time frames, subject, location), the more responsive OASCR FOIA can be. If necessary, OASCR will contact a requester to refine or clarify the request.
All requests are processed under both the FOIA and the Privacy Act in order, to provide greater disclosure. Requesters seeking records on themselves must provide either a notarized statement or a statement signed under penalty of perjury stating that they are the person they claim to be. They may have their signature on the request notarized or pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1746 (2) include the following statement just before the signature line: “I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct. Executed on [date].” This is to ensure that private information is not improperly disclosed.
FOIA Contacts & FOIA Service Center
Requests, appeals, and general inquiries may be directed to ascrfoia@ascr.usda.gov (link sends e-mail).
OASCR Chief FOIA Officer
Ms. Shawn S. McGruder
Director, Office of Adjudication/USDA
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20250-9410
Requester Service Center/FOIA Public Liaison
Samantha Jones FOIA Specialist
Telephone number: (202) 720-5212
Email: ascrfoia@ascr.usda.gov
eFax: 1-855-571-0055
.