Liz Hempowicz

Government transparency is the lifeblood of our democracy.

We’ve filed thousands of public records requests this year and are ready to go to court when government officials attempt to keep documents hidden.

Read more about our latest accountability work:
americanoversight.org

American Oversight Sues for Records on Trump’s Federal Power Grab Targeting D.C. and Immigrant Communities - American Oversight American Oversight demands transparency on Trump’s politicized use of federal power – from immigration enforcement to the unprecedented federalization of D.C. Police.

The public has a right to know why the White House is trampling on D.C.’s home rule and deploying the Guard into another American city.

That’s why we went to court for records on Trump’s federal power grab targeting D.C. and immigrant communities.
americanoversight.org/american-ove...

We filed FOIA requests with DHS for records—including texts—regarding the June deployment of the National Guard to LA.

DHS told us it can no longer search for text messages.

And it hasn’t maintained that data since April.

This is unlawful and alarming.
americanoversight.org/american-ove...

American Oversight Sues IRS Over Trump Admin’s Escalating Political Attacks Against Harvard - American Oversight The Harvard case is a bellwether in the Trump administration's widening attacks on entities committed to the public good.

NEW: We’re suing the IRS, the Treasury, and the Department of Education for records related to Trump’s unprecedented political attacks on Harvard.

Today it’s Harvard. Tomorrow it could be any university, nonprofit, or foundation that serves the public.
americanoversight.org/american-ove...

American Oversight Sues IRS Over Trump Admin’s Escalating Political Attacks Against Harvard - American Oversight The Harvard case is a bellwether in the Trump administration's widening attacks on entities committed to the public good.

Trump has turned the IRS and other federal agencies into political weapons—targeting those who don’t fall in line.

The latest target? Harvard.
americanoversight.org/american-ove...

Here’s What the Government Tried to Keep Hidden in the IRS-ICE Data-Sharing Agreement - American Oversight The unsealing of key documents, including the agreement itself, reveals not only what taxpayer data ICE is seeking from the IRS, but also the highly questionable justifications the government used to ...

Trump has also sought to abuse the IRS to further his anti-immigrant goals.

We recently succeeded in getting redactions lifted on an agreement between ICE and the IRS, which could compromise the personal information of millions of taxpayers.
americanoversight.org/heres-what-t...

American Oversight Launches Investigation into Trump Administration’s Plan to Gut Social Security - American Oversight Our investigation follows reports that the Trump administration plans to slash the Social Security workforce and implement changes to make it harder to qualify for assistance.

Cuts to the Social Security Administration — slashing the workforce, closing field offices, and implementing new policy changes — will directly impact millions of Americans.

They deserve answers.
americanoversight.org/american-ove...

Not good Ken.

Never in my decade of filing FOIA requests have I gotten a response like this. Customs and Border Protection denies my request, saying "Due to law enforcement sensitivities we can neither confirm nor deny the existence of records." No exemption cited, no name of who wrote this.

1) DOGE firing an entire FOIA office doesn't negate an agency's statutory requirements to process FOIAs. Even if the agency is taken down to bare bones. They are still required to process FOIAs.

2) There will be no way to rebuild what DOGE breaks if there are are no records to use as a roadmap.

“It shouldn’t matter who is overseeing this case or any others. What matters is whether or not there is a violation of the law.”
americanoversight.org/court-orders...

Today, the court ordered officials to preserve Signal messages sent between March 11 and 15. “We know that it’s a first step,” said AO’s Chioma Chukwu. “There’s a lot more work to be done here.”

Support our work and join the fight for our democracy: americanoversight.org/contribute/

Another Problem With That Signal Chat? The Messages Disappear. The Presidential Records Act and the Federal Records Act require officials to preserve communications related to government business.

“We’re going to have to keep going, because you can’t believe what the administration says. You have to watch what it does.” www.nytimes.com/2025/03/27/u...

Court Orders Trump Administration to Preserve Signal Messages in American Oversight Lawsuit - American Oversight The court granted a temporary restraining order to halt the deletion of critical national security communications and preserve Signal communications from March 11–15, 2025.

NEW: A federal court just ordered the Trump administration to preserve Signal messages from March 11–15. The ruling comes in our lawsuit against top officials for violations of federal records laws.
americanoversight.org/court-orders...

And because Signal violated the PRA's preservation requirements, it would be Marco Rubio's job as acting archivist to refer the unlawful records destruction issue to the DOJ.

Too bad Rubio was also on the Signal chat.

American Oversight v. Hegseth, Gabbard, Ratcliffe, Bessent, Rubio, and NARA Regarding Military Actions Planned on Signal Messaging App - American Oversight Lawsuit filed against Hegseth, Gabbard, Ratcliffe, Bessent, Rubio, and NARA concerning news reports that a journalist had been added to a Signal group chat among those containing potentially classifie...

NEW: We’re suing several top Trump administration officials who discussed high-level national security deliberations over Signal for violations of the Federal Records Act and Administrative Procedure Act.
americanoversight.org/litigation/a...

ICYMI, @propublica.org uncovered Project 2025 training videos last summer.

And here’s where they discuss how to evade FOIA & hide their agenda from the public.

The “Houthi PC small group” didn’t arise from ignorance of the law or incompetence.

They just got caught.

JUST IN: American Oversight is suing Hegseth, Gabbard, Ratcliffe et al, saying their messaging via Signal is a violation of the Federal Records Act.

storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

I guess it's not surprising, but the daughter of the CEO of this ICE contractor was one of the 2020 "fake electors."

Wired is dropping paywalls for FOIA-based reporting. Others should follow As the administration does its best to hide public records from the public, Wired magazine is stepping up to help stem the secrecy

News outlets everywhere should follow @wired.com's lead in dropping paywalls for primarily FOIA-based reporting.

freedom.press/issues/wired...

Totally agree with this. Flying a person to a third country that they may never have been to, directly into a prison where they are going to be forced to do hard labor, is not a deportation; it's something else entirely.

Amazing way to celebrate Sunshine Week during an otherwise preeeeeeetty dark time for government transparency. Love this from @freedom.press.

Why will it take DOGE three years to respond to a simple FOIA? Five important questions to ask about DOGE’s FOIA future

A judge recently ruled DOGE is likely subject to FOIA.

But it’s still possible DOGE will continue operating with unchecked secrecy.

Here are the five questions whose answers will shed light on DOGE’s FOIA future.

Once you establish that people can be punished because the administration doesn't like their speech, expanding the bounds of who can be treated that way becomes inevitable.

Where Are Trump Border Patrol Chief Mike Banks’ Communications from His Time as Texas Border Czar? - American Oversight The lack of records in response to American Oversight’s requests from its two-year investigation of Banks raises questions about public accountability and transparency.

Redacted calendars. Communications on non-official accounts. Claims of “no information” in response to our requests. Why our investigation of Border Patrol Chief Mike Banks’ tenure as Texas border czar revealed more questions than answers:
americanoversight.org/where-are-tr...

American Oversight Sues Trump Administration for Directing Agency Staff to Shred and Burn Government Records - American Oversight American Oversight filed suit against government for violating the Federal Records Act and other transparency laws following reports staff were instructed to destroy documents.

NEW LAWSUIT: Following reports that USAID staff were directed to shred and burn classified and personnel documents, we’re suing the Trump administration for violations of the Federal Records Act, the Administrative Procedure Act, and FOIA.
americanoversight.org/american-ove...

Social Security, facing pressure from DOGE, weighs big cuts to phone service Agency considers ending phone program that helps with claims processing and is used by millions of elderly and disabled Americans.

Making government shittier for senior citizens so billionaires can get more tax breaks. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

YouTube video by LastWeekTonight ICE Detention: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

Last Week Tonight discussed conditions in ICE detention facilities — including our recent report with ACLU and Physicians for Human Rights that found that 95% of deaths in detention could likely have been prevented with adequate medical care.
youtu.be/5Hpgu7wSUQQ?...

It would be easier to achieve "maximum transparency" if DOGE's tech geniuses didn't need three years to release eight weeks worth of records in response to a FOIA request.