The FOIA contains seven subsections; the first two establish that certain categories of information must automatically be disclosed by federal agencies. Subsection (a)(1) of the FOIA (5 U.S.C. 552) requires disclosure through publication in the Federal Register of information such as:
- Descriptions of USSS organization and office addresses where the public may obtain information, make requests, or obtain decisions.
- Statements of the general course and method of USSS operations including the nature and requirements of all formal and informal procedures.
- Rules of procedure and descriptions of forms.
- Substantive rules of general applicability adopted as authorized by law and general policy statements adopted by the agency.
- Each amendment, revision, or repeal of the above.
Section (a)(2) of FOIA requires that the USSS make the following materials available for inspection and copying:
- Final opinions and orders made in the adjudication of cases.
- Statements of policy and interpretations adopted by an agency, but not published in the Federal Register.
- Administrative staff manuals and instructions to staff that affect the public.
- Copies of records released in response to FOIA requests that the USSS determines have been or will likely be the subject of additional requests.
- A general index of these four categories of records.
The USSS maintains a FOIA Library in compliance with section (a)(2) which is found on USSS.gov, search keyword " FOIA Library " to visit the online FOIA Library.
The form in which USSS maintains a record does not affect its availability. A requester may seek a printed or typed document, tape recording, map, photograph, computer printout, computer tape or disk, or a similar item. The USSS must provide the requested record in any form or format requested by the person if the record is readily reproducible by the agency in that form or format, and make reasonable efforts to maintain its records in forms or formats that are reproducible for such purposes.
However, not all records that can be requested under the FOIA must be disclosed. Information that is exempt from disclosure.
FOIA requires that each request reasonably describe the records being sought. Each request must be specific enough to permit an employee of the USSS FOIA Office to reasonably ascertain exactly what records are requested and locate them.
Requesters should make requests as detailed as possible, including the date and title of requested documents, if available. Requests should include information broad enough to specify all desired information, but narrow enough to be practical when the date and title are unknown.
Requesters should include a contact telephone number in their request to allow an USSS Disclosure employee to make contact to resolve issues, clarify the scope of a request or help identify a specific document containing the information sought.
The FOIA only applies to existing records, and does not require the USSS to collect information not available, or to research or analyze data in response to a request. The USSS is not obliged to create a new record to comply with a FOIA request. However, when records are maintained in an electronic format, the USSS may be required to retrieve information in response to a FOIA request. The process of retrieving the information may result in the creation of a new document when the data is printed out on paper or written on computer tape or disk.