What is FOIA?
The Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) establishes a presumption that records in the possession of agencies and departments of the Executive Branch of the U.S. Government are available to the public. The FOIA sets standards for determining when Government records must be made available and which records may be withheld. The FOIA also gives requesters specific legal rights and provides administrative and judicial remedies when access to records or portions of records is denied. Most importantly, the FOIA statute requires that Federal agencies provide access to and disclosure of information pertaining to the Government's business to the fullest extent possible. The text of the Act may be viewed by accessing the U.S. Department of Justice FOIA web site.
What is the Privacy Act?
The Privacy Act allows an individual upon request to gain access to his/her record or any information pertaining to themselves, which is contained in a system of records.
The Privacy Act serves three purposes:
1. To allow individuals access to information about themselves,
2. To keep other people from having information about you that would warrant an invasion of personal privacy; and
3. To correct information that is being kept in a file that is incorrect.
How do I submit a FOIA/PA request?
A FOIA request can be submitted in writing to the Transportation Security Administration, TSA-20, West Tower, FOIA Division, 601 South 12th Street, Arlington, VA 22202-4220, by fax at 571-227-1406 or by filling out the Customer Service Form. Your FOIA/PA request must contain the following information:
- Your name, address and telephone number. If you have an email address, please provide it.
- Specify whether you are making a FOIA or PA request.
- Provide specific detailed information about the records you are seeking.
- Indicate what format you would like the information requested to be provided to you in, if it is other than paper.
- State your willingness to pay any fees and indicate how much you are willing to pay as advance authorization to process.
If you are mailing your request please prominently mark on the envelope "FOIA Request." In addition, prior to submitting a FOIA request you may want to search our web page to see if the information is already posted.
How do I follow up on my request?
Within 4-5 business days of TSA receiving your request you will receive an acknowledgement letter. This letter will contain a TSA tracking number for your request. If you contact us by phone or by mail please have this number available.
Electronic Reading Room
This section contains records processed and disclosed in response to a FOIA request that "the agency determines have become or are likely to become the subject of subsequent requests for substantially the same records." 5 U.S.C.§ 552 (a)(2)(D). Under this provision, when records are disclosed in response to a FOIA request, an agency will be required to determine if they have already become the subject of subsequent FOIA requests or, in the agency's best judgment based upon the nature of the records and the types of requests regularly received, are likely to be the subject of multiple requests in the future.
Headquarters Office
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FOIA Headquarters Office:
Main Number 571-227-2300 or 866-364-2872 (866- FOIA-TSA)
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Mail (U.S. Postal System and all overnight mail/Fedex):
Transportation Security Administration
Office of Security
West Building 11th Floor, Room 120S, TSA-20
601 South 12th Street
Arlington, VA 22202-4220
Headquarters Staff
- Catrina Pavlik, Associate Director
- Anastazia Taylor, Senior FOIA Specialist
- Deborah Taylor, FOIA Specialist
- Annette Demory, FOIA Specialist
- Teri Miller, FOIA Specialist
- Ted Sheils, FOIA Specialist
- William Holzerland, FOIA Assistant
- Joann Dietrich, Data Entry
DHS FOIA Links:
Useful Links:
Printable Version