Given the wide range of FOIA activities and reporting requirements that take place every fiscal year, this calendar is provided to highlight events of interest and to track key deadlines for federal agencies. Here you will find deadlines for the preparation and submission of agency Annual FOIA Reports and Chief FOIA Officer Reports, as well as important dates relating to FOIA training, workshops, and conferences, and events involving FOIA transparency topics. This calendar is presented both chronologically, by month, and topically.
January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December
| Sept. 30, 2011 | End of Fiscal Year 2011 |
| Oct. 1, 2011 | Start of Fiscal Year 2012 |
| Oct. 13, 2011 | OIP hosts Annual FOIA Report and Chief FOIA Officer Report refresher training for agencies. Chief FOIA Officers and Agency Principal FOIA Contacts and any other Agency Personnel who prepare the Annual FOIA Report or Chief FOIA Officer Report, including appropriate IT staff are encouraged to attend the training (Washington, DC) |
| Dec. 5, 2011 | Agency Fiscal Year 2011 Annual FOIA Reports in both Word or PDF and in XML format due to OIP for review |
| Feb. 1, 2012 | Agencies post their Fiscal Year 2011 Annual FOIA Reports online in both Word or PDF, and XML formats |
| Oct. 13, 2011 | OIP hosts Annual FOIA Report and Chief FOIA Officer Report refresher training for agencies. Chief FOIA Officers and Agency Principal FOIA Contacts and any other Agency Personnel who prepare the Annual FOIA Report or Chief FOIA Officer Report, including appropriate IT staff are encouraged to attend the training (Washington, DC) |
| Feb. 1, 2012 | Draft Chief FOIA Officer Reports due to OIP for review |
| By Sunshine Week, Mar. 2012 | Agencies post their 2012 Chief FOIA Officer Reports online |
| Feb. 22-23, 2011 | Training: The Freedom of Information Act for Attorneys and Access Professionals (Washington, DC) |
| Mar. 21, 2011 | OIP hosts FOIA Requester/Agency Town Hall Meeting (Washington, DC) (Open to the Public) |
| Mar. 24, 2011 | OIP hosts DOJ FOIA Training Conference (Washington, DC) |
| Apr. 4-5, 2011 | The Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture hosts Annual FOIA Conference, where OIP’s Counsel for the Initial Request Staff provides a lecture titled Overview of the FOIA (University of Montana, Missoula, MT) |
| Apr. 5-6, 2011 | OIP Director Melanie Ann Pustay provides keynote address focusing on transparency principles outlined in the President's FOIA Memorandum and Attorney General Holder's FOIA Guidelines, at the Department of the Navy's Annual FOIA Conference. OIP personnel will also participate in lectures involving various FOIA exemptions (Washington, DC) |
| Apr. 6, 2011 | Training: Advanced Freedom of Information Act Seminar (Washington, DC) |
| May 3-4, 2011 | Training: The Freedom of Information Act for Attorneys and Access Professionals (Washington, DC) |
| May 17, 2011 | OIP hosts training session on the use of Exemption 2 after the Supreme Court's decision in Milner v. Department of the Navy (Washington, DC) |
| May 17, 2011 | OIP hosts a FOIA Fee Summit for department and agency FOIA personnel to discuss issues related to the proper application of the FOIA’s fee and fee waiver provisions (Washington, DC) |
| May 19, 2011 | OIP, in conjunction with OGIS, hosts FOIA Requester Roundtable on the topic of law enforcement records (Washington, DC) (Open to the Public) |
| June 1, 2011 | Department of Labor FOIA Conference, where OIP Director Melanie Ann Pustay presents a lecture on the Supreme Court decision in Milner, including a briefing on OIP’s guidance on the use of Exemption 2 (Washington, DC) |
| June 8, 2011 | Training: Freedom of Information Act Administrative Forum (Washington, DC) |
| June 9, 2011 | OIP hosts training session on the use of Exemption 2 after the Supreme Court's decision in Milner v. Department of the Navy (Washington, DC) |
| June 14, 2011 | Department of Homeland Security FOIA training program, where OIP Director Melanie Ann Pustay presents a lecture on the recent Supreme Court decision in Milner, including a briefing on OIP’s guidance on the use of Exemption 2 (Washington, DC) |
| June 28, 2011 | U.S. Forest Service National FOIA Conference, entitled Changing Forest Service Culture – Transition into the Electronic Era, where OIP Director Melanie Ann Pustay presents a lecture on transparency principles, the President’s FOIA Memorandum, the Attorney General’s FOIA Guidelines, and the use of Exemption 2 after the Supreme Court decision in Milner (Washington, DC) |
| June 30, 2011 | Department of Veterans Affairs FOIA Conference, where OIP Director Melanie Ann Pustay presents a lecture on the President’s FOIA Memorandum, the Attorney General’s FOIA Guidelines, the recent Supreme Court decision in Milner, the use of Exemption 4, and submitter notice procedures (Charlotte, NC) |
| July 12-13, 2011 | Training: The Freedom of Information Act for Attorneys and Access Professionals (Washington, DC) |
| July 14, 2011 | OIP, in conjunction with OGIS, hosts FOIA Requester Roundtable on the topic of record referrals and consultations (Washington, DC) Open to the Public) |
| July 26, 2011 | OIP hosts a training conference for DOJ components to discuss current law enforcement matters, including the Supreme Court decision in Milner. The training incorporates a plenary session with discussions on issues involving law enforcement matters and exemption applicability in light of Milner, with break-out sessions for components with tailored discussions addressing more particularized issues (Washington, DC) |
| July 28, 2011 | Department of Energy FOIA Conference, where OIP Director Melanie Ann Pustay presents a lecture on the President’s FOIA Memorandum, the Attorney General’s FOIA Guidelines, the Open Government Directive, and the recent Supreme Court decision in Milner. OIP subject matter experts also present lectures on the Overview of the FOIA, lead discussions of the FOIA’s procedural requirements and exemptions, in addition to leading discussions to address particularized issues confronting the Department of Energy (Washington, DC) |
| Aug. 1-3, 2011 | Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) FOIA Conference, where OIP subject matter experts present lectures on the Overview of the FOIA and on particularized issues confronting BOP, in addition to leading discussions on the FOIA's procedural requirements and exemptions (Kansas City, Kansas) |
| Aug. 25, 2011 | Department of Agriculture, Risk Management Agency, FOIA Conference, where OIP Director Melanie Ann Pustay presents a session on transparency principles outlined in the President’s FOIA Memorandum and the Attorney General’s FOIA Guidelines. OIP subject matter experts also present lectures on the topics of the Overview of the FOIA, and the FOIA’s procedural requirements and exemptions, in addition to leading discussions to address particularized issues confronting the Department of Agriculture (Washington, DC) |
| Aug. 30, 2011 | OIP, in conjunction with OGIS, hosts a training session for FOIA Public Liaisons on dispute resolution skills (Washington, DC) |
| Sept.15, 2011 | Environmental Protection Agency, along with Department of Commerce, Homeland Security and Interior, host a joint FOIA Training Conference, where OIP Director Melanie Ann Pustay presents a lecture on recent FOIA court decisions (Washington, DC) |
| Oct. 3-6, 2011 | Department of Defense, U.S. Northern Command training conference, where OIP Chief of Staff Carmen L. Mallon presents a lecture on the recent Supreme Court decision in Milner v. Department of the Navy, as well as an overview of the FOIA, the FOIA’s procedural requirements, and participates in a lecture on the scope of various FOIA exemptions (Colorado Springs, Colorado) |
| Oct. 19, 2011 | OIP, in conjunction with OGIS, hosts FOIA Requester Roundtable on the topic on the topic of contractor and business-related records (Washington, DC) (Open to the Public) |
| Oct. 20, 2011 | Office of Personal Management's Office of General Counsel training retreat for attorneys and administrative staff, where OIP Director Melanie Ann Pustay presents a lecture on the legal requirements of the FOIA (Washington, DC) |
| Oct. 25, 2011 | OIP, in conjunction with OGIS, hosts a dispute resolution skills training for FOIA Public Liaisons to assist the Liaisons in performing their duties (Washington, DC) |
| Oct. 26, 2011 | Department of Agriculture, Risk Management Agency’s FOIA Conference, where OIP Director Melanie Ann Pustay and OIP subject matter experts present lectures on the transparency principles outlined in President Obama’s FOIA Memorandum and Attorney General Holder’s FOIA Guidelines, an Overview of the FOIA, and the FOIA’s procedural requirements and exemptions (Washington, DC) |
| Oct. 26-27, 2011 | Department of Health and Human Services FOIA Conference, where OIP subject matter experts serve as panelists for workshops on Proactive Disclosures and the use of FOIA Exemptions (Washington, DC) |
| Oct. 27, 2011 | OIP hosts a planning meeting of the FOIA Technology Working Group, to address OIP’s open government technology initiatives. The Working Group serves as a forum for agencies to
exchange ideas and experiences in utilizing technology to improve administration of the FOIA (Washington, DC) |
| Nov. 3, 2011 | Training: FOIA Litigation Seminar (Washington, DC) |
| Nov. 15, 2011 | The Agency for International Development hosts its first FOIA Forum, where OIP Director Melanie Ann Pustay presents a lecture on the Overview of the FOIA, focusing on the FOIA's procedural requirements and exemptions, and serves as a panelist for a session focusing on notable trends affecting FOIA in this climate of open government, focusing on the transparency principles outlined in the President's FOIA Memorandum and Attorney General Holder’s FOIA Guidelines (Washington, DC) |
| Nov. 22, 2011 | Department of Homeland Security’s FOIA Conference, where OIP’s Counsel, Initial Request Staff, and other OIP subject matter experts provide lectures on the application of specific FOIA exemptions (Washington, DC) |
| Dec. 5-6, 2011 | Training: The Freedom of Information Act for Attorneys and Access Professionals (Washington, DC) |
| Mar. 7-10, 2011 | OIP Director Melanie Ann Pustay and Chief of Staff Carmen L. Mallon participates in the American Society of Access Professionals (ASAP) National Training Conference (Las Vegas, NV) |
| Mar. 15, 2011 | OIP Director Melanie Ann Pustay testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee at a hearing titled "The Freedom of Information Act: Ensuring Transparency and Accountability in the Digital Age" (Washington, DC) (Testimony | Webcast) |
| Mar. 23, 2011 | OIP Director Melanie Ann Pustay meets with a delegation of investigative journalists from Thailand as a part of the International Visitor Leadership Program from the Department of State, on the topic of the role of the media in democracy and how the media can be used to encourage accountability and transparency (Washington, DC) |
| Mar. 25, 2011 | OIP Director Melanie Ann Pustay serves as a guest speaker for the Brookings Executive Leadership Program: Women’s Leadership Strategies for Success, and speaks on the topic of Communicating Across the Gender Divide (Washington, DC) |
| Mar. 29, 2011 | The Commissioner from the Office of the German Federal Commission for Data Protection and Freedom of Information meets with OIP Chief of Staff Carmen L. Mallon, discussing current issues relating to the Freedom of Information Act (Washington, DC) |
| Mar. 29-Apr. 1, 2011 | OIP Director Melanie Ann Pustay participates in a Chinese law and policy reform program, co-sponsored by The China Law Center of Yale Law School and the Shanghai Office of Legislative Affairs, taking part in workshops and academic lectures at the Peking University Law School on the topic of disclosure of information (Shanghai and Beijing, China) |
| May 13, 2011 | OIP Director Melanie Ann Pustay serves as a guest speaker for the Brookings Executive Leadership Program: Women’s Leadership Strategies for Success, and speaks on the topic of Powerful Leadership: Influence and Persuasion (Washington, DC) |
| June 21-23, 2011 | The American Society of Access Professionals (ASAP) holds its summer training series, where OIP staff provides lectures on a variety of topics including proactive disclosures, and FOIA fee and fee wavier provisions (Washington, DC) |
| July 11, 2011 | The Director General of Judicial Coordination at the Spanish Ministry of the President (an advisor to the President of Spain on the drafting of a new FOIA law in Spain), in connection with the National Security Archive meets with OIP Director Melanie Ann Pustay, discussing the creation and implementation of an access to public information law (Washington, DC) |
| July 13, 2011 | The Australian Information Commissioner meets with OIP Director Melanie Ann Pustay, discussing FOIA developments in the United States and globally (Washington, DC) |
| July 13, 2011 | OIP Director Melanie Ann Pustay serves as a guest speaker for the Brookings Executive Leadership Program: Women’s Leadership Strategies for Success, and speaks on the topic of Worklife Balance (Washington, DC) |
| July 21, 2011 | A delegation from Bangladesh led by its Information Commission Chair, and sponsored by Development Alternatives, Inc., meets with officials from OIP to discuss the new 2009 Bangladesh law, Right to Information, and the government's responsibilities required under this law (Washington, DC) |
| July 28, 2011 | A delegation from the People's Republic of China, sponsored by the Asian American Exchange, meets with OIP Director Melanie Ann Pustay, discussing OIP's role in encouraging agency compliance with the FOIA, and the role of counseling, training, distribution of reference materials, and other resources that assist agencies in meeting FOIA requirements (Washington, DC) |
| Aug. 23, 2011 | Officials from the newly created Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, an Office within the Department of the Treasury, meets with OIP Director Melanie Ann Pustay, discussing the creation of its new FOIA program (Washington, DC) |
| Aug. 24, 2011 | A representative from the Dutch National Government’s Ministry of the Interior, who is conducting research on the topics of Open Government and the Freedom of Information Act in the United States, meets with OIP Director Melanie Ann Pustay on the topics of President Obama’s FOIA policies, the history of the FOIA in the U.S., and lessons learned during the forty-five years of U.S. transparency law (Washington, DC) |
| Sept. 7, 2011 | The General Services Administration, Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) Training Conference, where OIP Director Melanie Ann Pustay serves as a panelist discussing compliance of the FACA with the Freedom of Information Act, the Federal Records Act, the Presidential Records Act, the Paperwork Reduction Act, and the Privacy Act (Washington, DC) |
| Sept. 8, 2011 | A delegation of educators, journalists and government officials from Tunisia, sponsored by the Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, meets with OIP Director Melanie Ann Pustay, to discuss the FOIA and OIP’s role in its implementation within the Department of Justice and the Executive Branch. (Washington, DC) |
| Sept. 8, 2011 | A group of twenty-five government officials, NGO representatives, and journalists with a professional focus involving strengthening accountability and transparency in their respective governments, through a Department of State program entitled “Accountability in Government,” meets with OIP Director Melanie Ann Pustay to discuss the Department’s implementation of the President’s FOIA Memorandum and Attorney General Holder’s FOIA Guidelines. This program is designed to explore best practices underlying transparency and accountability and to examine the impact of transparency on trade, investment and economic development (Washington, DC) |
| Sept 15, 2011 | An eight-person, multinational delegation from Europe, sponsored by the Department of State, meets with OIP Director Melanie Ann Pustay to discuss data privacy and protection, as well as the administration of the FOIA in the United States (Washington, DC) |
| Sept. 19-21, 2011 | OIP Chief of Staff Carmen L. Mallon, and an OIP subject matter expert, participates in the annual FOIA and Privacy Act Workshop of the American Society of Access Professionals (ASAP), and provide lectures on several topical discussions at the conference (Chicago, IL) |
| Sept. 22, 2011 | Associate Attorney General Thomas Perrelli and OIP Director Melanie Ann Pustay host a meeting with the Chief FOIA Officers of the cabinet agencies to discuss implementation of the Attorney General’s FOIA Guidelines and other open government initiatives. The meeting is a part of a regular series of meetings that the Associate Attorney General holds with key Chief FOIA Officers, as stated in the Department's Open Government Plan (Washington, DC) |
| Oct. 3-5, 2011 | OIP Director Melanie Ann Pustay participates in the 7th International Conference of Information Commissioners, hosted by the Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada and the Canadian Bar Association, serving as a panelist for a session titled, Oversight: Is there an optimal model for protecting access to information rights?
(Ottawa, Canada) |
| Nov. 16, 2011 | OIP Director Melanie Ann Pustay serves as a guest speaker for the Brookings Executive Leadership Program: Women’s Leadership Strategies for Success, and leads a discussion on the topic of Values in Action (Washington, DC) |
| Dec. 7-8, 2011 | The American Society of Access Professionals (ASAP) hosts its annual symposium and training conference, where OIP Chief of Staff Carmen L. Mallon serves as a panelist for a session entitled “Hot Trends in FOIA” (Washington, DC) |
 |
 |
Melanie Ann Pustay |
Director |
 |
Office of Information Policy |
(202) 514-FOIA (3642) |
