Government operations and workforce

Executive Order 13392: Improving Agency Disclosure of Information

President: George W. Bush

Directed agencies to improve Freedom of Information Act services through chief FOIA officers, requester centers and improvement plans.

Status: In effect. Is Executive Order 13392 still in effect? Yes. Executive Order 13392 remains in effect. See Federal Register record.

What does Executive Order 13392 do?

Justice's 2008 report to the President described agencies' implementation plans, FOIA service improvements and remaining backlogs under EO 13392.

Administration position: The order set administrative practice goals within FOIA; statutory exemptions, deadlines and judicial remedies remain governed by FOIA itself.
SignedDecember 14, 2005
Original directionDirected agencies to improve Freedom of Information Act services through chief FOIA officers, requester centers and improvement plans.
Later evidenceJustice's 2008 report to the President described agencies' implementation plans, FOIA service improvements and remaining backlogs under EO 13392.
Review dateSeptember 26, 2026

Before and after

Before the order

FOIA administration varied among agencies, with concerns about backlogs, requester communication and disclosure practices.

After the order

Justice's 2008 report to the President described agencies' implementation plans, FOIA service improvements and remaining backlogs under EO 13392.

The order set administrative practice goals within FOIA; statutory exemptions, deadlines and judicial remedies remain governed by FOIA itself.

Who had to do what

Source: Signed Federal Register text.
Agency / officeActionTiming / position
Heads of agenciesDesignate an Assistant Secretary-level or equivalent Chief FOIA Officer and promptly notify OMB and the Attorney General of changes. Establish staffed FOIA Requester Service Centers. Approve the agency improvement plan; consult OMB on performance measures, report the review and plan to the Attorney General and OMB, and publicly post it. Include implementation results in fiscal year 2006 and 2007 annual FOIA reports; identify missed milestones, reasons, and corrective steps in the annual report and to the President’s Management Council.Chief designated within 30 days of December 14, 2005; review and approved plan reported within six months; annual reporting for fiscal years 2006 and 2007.
Chief FOIA OfficersOversee compliance, monitor performance, advise the agency head, legal officer, and Attorney General, recommend staffing, funding, and practice improvements, and report through the agency head as instructed. Improve explanations of exemptions and record classes; designate public liaisons and publish contacts; ensure prompt request-status replies. Review processing, backlogs, resources, requester assistance, information technology, expedited and multitrack processing, and proactive disclosure. Prepare a fiscal year 2006–2007 improvement plan with staff, liaisons, the Attorney General, and OMB, including backlog reduction, disclosure, awareness, milestones, and measurable outcomes.Review and plan support the six-month agency reporting deadline; implementation covers fiscal years 2006 and 2007; continuing compliance and performance oversight.
FOIA Requester Service CentersProvide requester service and assistance, including information about request status.When requesters seek assistance; status responses must be prompt.
FOIA Public LiaisonsServe as supervisory contacts after initial service-center responses; reduce delays, increase transparency, resolve disputes, and report to the Chief FOIA Officer.Following initial service-center responses; ongoing liaison duties.
Attorney GeneralProvide appropriate instructions and guidance on agency reviews, improvement plans, and reports. Consult OMB and use agency reviews and fiscal year 2005 FOIA reports to report to the President on implementation and recommend further action.Initial presidential report within ten months of December 14, 2005; further reports by June 1, 2007, and June 1, 2008.
Director of the Office of Management and BudgetConsult on improvement plans and performance measures and with the Attorney General on the presidential implementation report. May issue implementing instructions except for the review and reporting matters reserved to the Attorney General.During plan preparation, evaluation, and implementation reporting.
Later actionJustice's 2008 report to the President described agencies' implementation plans, FOIA service improvements and remaining backlogs under EO 13392.June 1, 2008

What happened next

EO 13392 signed.

Justice's 2008 report to the President described agencies' implementation plans, FOIA service improvements and remaining backlogs under EO 13392.