FOIA b(3) Exemptions

National Archives and Records Administration FOIA Exemptions

12.3
Use Rate 		44.0
Total claims 		357
Denials

National Archives and Records Administration Annual Reports: '08 |
The National Archives and Records Administration used b(3) exemptions to withhold information from FOIA requesters 357 times in 2008-2009.

Category

  • All
  • Armed Forces
  • Crimes and Criminal Procedure
  • Internal Revenue Code
  • Other
  • War and National Defense
Statute Description Claims
FRCP 6(e) Grand Jury Information 15.0
50 USC 403g Intelligence Sources and Methods 10.0
26 USC 6103 Tax return information 6.0
10 USC 424 Organizational and Personnel Information for DIA, NRO, and NGA 4.0
18 USC 2517 Wiretap information 4.0
50 USC 421 Identities of US Undercover Intelligence Officers, Agents, Informants and Sources 2.0
50 USC 435 Note Information concerning US Personnel Classified as POW/MIA During the Vietnam and Korean Conflicts (McCain Bill) 2.0
50 USC 403-1(i) Intelligence Sources and Methods 1.0

About This Project

This project uses data compiled by the Sunshine in Government initiative, a coalition of journalism and transparency groups. SGI compiled data from federal agency annual FOIA reports to track how often b(3) exemptions were used. SGI also standardized the exemptions since some agencies used slightly different citations of the same laws. In some cases, agencies listed general laws without specifying a section under which information was withheld. This project does not include information from agencies that use no b(3) exemptions in 2008 or 2009. ProPublica compiled information about FOIA denials.

FOIA Resources