American Oversight
@weareoversight
We're a nonpartisan, nonprofit watchdog that advances truth, accountability, and democracy by enforcing the public's right to government records.
ICE accidentally published a watchlist of immigration attorneys. We need to know why ICE is tracking them and how it’s going to use that info. We sent FOIA requests for records on how the list was created, criteria for adding people to it, and related communications.
In 2021, Trump allegedly took classified docs to Mar-A-Lago—including records so secret only 6 people had seen them. There’s a report on the threat this created—but a judge is keeping it hidden. This week, we filed a new legal brief to fight for the report’s release.
The Trump administration gave a no-bid contract to repaint the reflecting pool to a company that reportedly had worked at a Trump golf course. The pool already needs more repairs — but the admin isn’t getting new bids to fix it. We FOIAed communications about failing paint.
In recent court docs, federal officials admitted that they cut millions in federal grants “based solely” on political concerns, going after states that voted blue in 2024. We FOIAed the criteria used to expose how federal funding has been weaponized. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/24/b...
The cyclosporiasis outbreak has made more than 7,000 people in the U.S. sick. We’re concerned the Trump admin isn’t adequately preparing for public health threats like this. To investigate, we sent FOIAs for a top health officials’ emails containing terms like “cyclosporiasis.”
Ahead of Arizona’s July primaries, 1,357 mail ballots were marked as undeliverable to Navajo County. We’ve been investigating whether issues with USPS could make it harder for people to vote. We’ve FOIAed to find out USPS is addressing potential problems. www.azcentral.com/story/news/p...
We’ve filed more than 20 public records requests for communications between related federal agencies and states that have been targeted to learn more about how the Trump administration is weaponizing anti-fraud investigations.
In January, the FBI raided the Fulton County elections office and seized ballots cast in the 2020 election. We’re investigating. We sent public records requests to the FBI and Fulton County for records related to the ballot seizure, including comms with the White House.
In March 2025, RFK Jr. said he would restructure HHS and create an Admin for a Healthy America. This could cut funding for the CDC, HIV/AIDS support, and mental health, but there’s little public info about it. We FOIAed for policies, cost analyses, and comms regarding the AHA.
ICE is detaining so many people that it has started using military bases. Reports from some bases say the food and water aren’t safe, and that people were moved there before it was ready. We FOIAed for inspection reports and complaints about conditions.
Trump and his allies claim Trump’s White House ballroom is necessary for national security. We FOIAed internal communications, contracting documents, and final recommendations on the ballroom that could show if this rationale was always the justification for the project.
Freedom 250 isn’t done with its 250th anniversary events — and many of them seem to be more about Trump than the country as a whole. We sent FOIAs for communications, internal guidance, and donor information that could show how Freedom 250 is funded. americanoversight.org/america250-f...
In January, OMB reportedly ordered nearly all federal agencies to create reports on how much funding they give to select states — all of which happened to vote blue. We FOIAed the criteria used to select these states as well as guidance on how this info will be used.
In May, OMB requested detailed spending reports on federal funding to 49 nonprofit organizations. We’re concerned this is part of a broader attack on civil society groups. We FOIAed OMB for internal documents that could show why these groups were selected.
The USPS might stop postmarking mail on the same day it’s received. This affects voting by mail because the postmarked date can determine if a vote is counted. We need to know if USPS has plans to address that. We FOIAed to find out.
Every year on July 4, we celebrate FOIA's past, present, and future as a vital tool to hold our government accountable. Read the thread to learn more!
Last year, Trump signed an executive order barring federal support for minor’s gender-affirming care. We need to know how agencies are implementing this, including if it could impact health care coverage for federal employees. We FOIAed to find out.
The Trump admin is considering rolling back anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people in federal housing law. We’re investigating if the admin is considering more rollbacks. We FOIAed agency communications related to non-discrimination policies. stateline.org/2026/04/28/t...
Across the country, some state lawmakers have introduced legislation that would bar LGBTQ people from getting married. We’re investigating these attacks on civil rights. We’ve sent public records requests to these lawmakers for their related communications.
The FDA is claiming chest binders should be classified as medical devices subject to FDA regulation. It seems the FDA is bending its regulatory powers to go after products used by trans and non-binary people. We FOIAed analysis and comms regarding binders.
In February, the Trump admin adopted a policy that bans gender-affirming care in federal prisons — including taking people off of their medications. We need to know how this policy is being implemented, so we FOIAed for the instructions to staff and reports on impacted people.
ICE has reportedly been taking DNA samples from protesters they arrest, raising concerns that ICE is building a DNA database. We want to know how ICE is retaining and/or using DNA samples, and if this has increased in the last year. We FOIAed to find out.
In April, the CDC blocked the release of a study that showed the covid vaccine is effective. Experts had already approved it. This raises concerns that scientists aren't allowed to share info that conflicts with RFK Jr.’s beliefs. We FOIAed comms about the study's cancellation.
We also obtained documents that show the state police requesting permission to increase their budget to account for potential reimbursements from ICE, including an additional $3 million for salaries from federal funds for FY 2026.
ICE offers $100K for a new vehicle to police dpts that submit a 287(g) agreement and up to $7.5K for equipment for each officer that finishes task force training. Louisiana State Police are eligible to be reimbursed for $100k for a vehicle and $780K for 104 officers from ICE.
Reporting from the NY Times shows ICE 287(g) agreements that enlist local police to aid immigration crackdowns are most common in the south. We obtained records that show Louisiana expects millions of dollars from ICE for supporting its immigration work. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
The Trump admin is considering rolling back anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people in federal housing law. We’re investigating if the admin is considering more rollbacks. We FOIAed agency communications related to non-discrimination policies. stateline.org/2026/04/28/t...
Last year, Trump signed an executive order barring federal support for minor’s gender-affirming care. We need to know how agencies are implementing this, including if it could impact health care coverage for federal employees. We FOIAed to find out.
In April, the CDC blocked the release of a study that showed the covid vaccine is effective. Experts had already approved it. This raises concerns that scientists aren't allowed to share info that conflicts with RFK Jr.’s beliefs. We FOIAed comms about the study's cancellation.
A whistleblower says DOGE planned to use Social Security data to mark 2.7 million living people as dead—cutting them off from wages, banking, and other basic services—to force them out of the US. We’re using FOIA to investigate DOGE’s access to the data. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...