Welcome to the Government Attic--where librarians can browse

". . . http://governmentattic.org  provides electronic copies of thousands of interesting Federal Government documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act. Fascinating historical documents, reports on items in the news, oddities and fun stuff and government bloopers, they're all here. Think of browsing this site as rummaging through the Government's Attic -- hence our name."

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Can't decide if it's like an attic in a haunted house or a trash dump in DC. One document I read was from 1980 reporting on an incident from the Census of 1950 whereby two people from the White House tried to get a census tract when the White House was being remodeled and they needed to move President Truman. Seemed to be based on personal recollections. One neighborhood was rejected because it had too many foreigners living there and the President was moved to Blair House. However, remember this was only 5 years after WWII and the beginning of the Korean War, and this was the president who ordered the A bombs.

Some documents I attempted to look at were hundreds of "blank pages," and others so redacted, they were impossible to read. I browsed scattered issues of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) employee newsletter, FERC Insider, 2016-2018 which had health tips on lowering blood pressure, where to travel on vacation, where the FERC choral group was performing, favorite restaurants in DC, the agency's Weight Watchers program, energy saving tips in winter 2016, computer tips on changing passwords and creating file folders, a security story about intercepting a group that had planned a protest against FERC (see something say something), FERC had a football club and a child care center so there were announcements for that, retirement announcements, and obituaries with all the names redacted. This agency was very intersectional with special interest groups for LGBTQ, Middle Eastern, Asian, Women, African American each promoting special lectures and events. Photography contests which included pet and flowers. And it was voted the best place to work. Who knew?

Because the FOIA request was apparently for specific issues, the last of the Obama years was Nov. 2016, no. 10 and the first of Trump years, June 2017, no.6 and it changed to a better resolution and color instead of B & W. Although the heads and managers changed with the party, the civil service and middle managers stayed.  One woman I recognized in all most all the issues, both administrations.  She usually wore the same outfit for photos.

Corruption investigation of Obama's Justice Department being stonewalled

There is a FOIA lawsuit by Judicial Watch to investigate the Obama administration's shakedown of corporations to fund their buddies on the left. Justice Dept. under Holder and Lynch would sue corporations , they would settle, and the conditions to make it all go away were to write checks to leftist interest groups like La Raza, Urban League, and National Community Reinvestment Corporation. Over a billion was funneled through the Obama Justice Department to these left wing organizations. If you're a Democrat SJW and you think this is OK, ask yourself how you'd like it if the "voluntary donations" went to a Tea Party group to work against YOUR party. This process has been shut down during Trump era, but the past corruption needs to be exposed. The FOIA requests are handled by the Deep State, and so far, Trump hasn't done anything about that. 

 http://www.judicialwatch.org/press-room/press-releases/judicial-watch-sues-justice-department-records-forcing-corporations-fund-leftist-groups/

Another lie—the most transparent administration in history

FOIA says otherwise.  He goes against the law set up for presidents, then claims to be transparent.  Even his supporters know he is lying, but they don’t care.

http://hotair.com/archives/2015/03/18/ap-obama-administration-sets-new-record-for-foia-non-compliance/

EPA and FOIA

Another scandal for Obama administration? The EPA waives fees for leftist environmental groups under Freedom of Information Act, but not for conservative groups who sometimes have to go to court to get information. IRS, DoJ, WH, State, now EPA. Who's next? http://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/washingtonbureau/2013/05/14/conservative-group-accuses-epa-of.html

Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) found that the EPA waived fees on 75 out of 82 FOIA requests made by environmental groups such as the Natural Resources Defense Council and Greenpeace. But it denied fee waivers on 14 of CEI’s 15 FOIA requests. Other conservative groups also were often denied fee waivers, according to CEI.

Fed Loses Secrecy Suit, Considering Options

The Federal Reserve lost an appeal March 19 in a bid to keep hidden the details of its estimated $2 trillion in bailouts to bankers around the world, prompting celebration among anti-Fed campaigners and promises of a continued fight from the banking cartel.


Read the story here