Frequently Asked Questions Concerning
NASA's Freedom of Information Act Program

Below are some Frequently Asked Questions concerning NASA's FOIA Program. The answers are provided as a quick reference. For a complete more through explanation of NASA's FOIA program, please refer to NASA's FOIA Reference Guide located on the NASA FOIA website. The URL for the reference guide is http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/FOIA/EO_FOIA_Ref_Guide.pdf.

What is the Freedom of Information Act?

The FOIA was FOIA enacted in 1966 -- Title 5 U.S.C. § 552 and provides that any person has the right of access to Federal Agency records, except to the extent that such records are protected from release by a FOIA exemption or a special law enforcement record exclusion.

How do I make a FOIA request to NASA?

NASA requires requests must be in writing, either handwritten or typed; and they may be submitted by mail, fax or email. You may use the forms provided by each Center or you may mail a letter or an email. Letters and emails must request the specific document you are seeking along with a mailing address. Some requests may be answered electronically.

Where should I send the request?

NASA is organized into 13 FOIA Requester Service Centers. Within NASA, each center and component processes its own requests for records. Therefore, your request will receive the quickest possible response if it is addressed directly to the FOIA office that you believe has the records you are seeking. Below is contact information for each FOIA Requester Service Center

NASA Ames Research Center (ARC) - NAS2 Contracts Only
Moffett Field, California 94035
Lubna Shirazi , ARC FOIA Officer
Email: foia@arc.nasa.gov Tele: 650.604.1138 Fax: 650.604.0688 

NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) - NAS3 Contracts Only
Cleveland, Ohio 44135
Angela Pierce, GRC FOIA Officer
Email: foia@grc.nasa.gov Tele: 1-866-404-FOIA (3642) Fax: 216.433.5489 

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center(GSFC) - NAS5 Contracts Only
Greenbelt, Maryland 20771
Joan Belt, GSFC FOIA Officer
Email: foia@gsfc.nasa.gov Tele: 301.286.4721 Fax: 301.286.1712 

NASA Headquarters (HQ) - NASW Contracts Only
Washington, DC 20546
Vacant, HQ FOIA Officer
Email: hq-foia@nasa.gov Tele: 202.358.2462 Fax: 202.358.4332

NASA Office of the Inspector General (OIG)
Washington , DC 20546
Frank LaRocca, OIG FOIA Officer
Email: foiaoig@hq.nasa.gov Tele: 202.358.2575 Fax: 202.358.3696

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) - NAS7 Contracts Only
Pasadena , California 91109
Dennis Mahon, JPL FOIA Officer
Email: jpl-foia@nasa.gov Tele: 818.393.6779 Fax: 818.393.3160

NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) - NAS9 Contracts Only
Houston, Texas 77058
Jessica Cordero, JSC FOIA Officer
Email: jsc-foia@mail.nasa.gov Tele: 281.483.8252 Fax: 281.483.4876

NASA Kennedy Space Center (KSC) - NAS10 Contracts Only
Kennedy Space Center, Florida 32899
Penny Myers, KSC FOIA Officer
Email: foia@ksc.nasa.gov Tele: 321.867.9280 Fax: 321.867.8007

NASA Marshall Space Flight Center(MSFC) - NAS8 Contracts Only
Huntsville, Alabama 35812
Judi Hollingsworth, MSFC FOIA Officer
Email: foia@msfc.nasa.gov Tele: 256.544.1837 Fax: 256.544.0007 

NASA Shared Service Center(NSSC)
Stennis Space Center, Mississippi 39529
Paula Roy, NSSC FOIA Officer
Email: nssc@nasa.gov Tele: 228.613.6174 Fax: 228.779.NSSC

NASA Stennis Space Center(SSC) - NAS13 Contracts Only
Stennis Space Center, Mississippi 39529
Sallie Bilbo, SSC FOIA Officer
Email: foia@ssc.nasa.gov Tele: 228.688.3182 Fax: 228.688.1094

Is there a fee for obtaining records through the FOIA?

There is no initial fee to file a FOIA request; in fact, in the majority of requests made to NASA, no fees are ever charged. By law, however, an agency is entitled to charge certain fees, which depend on the particular category of FOIA requester that you fall into. Please refer to the NASA FOIA Requester Guide for a complete listing of fees and category of requesters.

How long will it take to process my FOIA request?

Under the statute, all federal agencies are required to respond to a FOIA request within twenty business days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays. This time period does not begin until the request is actually received by the FOIA office of the NASA center that maintains the records sought. Although NASA makes every effort to respond to FOIA requests as quickly as possible, in some cases it simply cannot do so within the specified time period. If a time extension is needed, the center may notify you of this in writing or by phone. (For a more complete explanation of Response Times please refer to the NASA FOIA Reference Guide.)

How will I receive the documents I have requested?  

Documents requested will be mailed or provided electronically via email. Each request will include a letter from the FOIA Public Liaison Officer stating the documents requested and explanation of any exemptions or deletions of the requested documents.

What if I have concerns with the processing of my FOIA request?

Under Executive Order 13392, dated: December 14, 2005, FOIA requesters also may contact an agency's FOIA Requester Service Center(s) to check on the status of their FOIA requests. As mentioned above, NASA has established such a center for each of its 13 center and management offices, with a FOIA Public Liaison named for each, whom FOIA requesters may contact by telephone if they are dissatisfied with the response of the center's FOIA Requester Service Center. FOIA requesters are strongly encouraged to make use of these new services that are now available to them.  

I contacted the FOIA Requester Service Center where I sent my request and I still have concerns, what should I do?

If after contacting the FOIA Public Liaison Officer at the center you submitted the request you still are not satisfied, you should contact either:  

Chief FOIA Public Liaison Officer – Miriam Brown-Lam

Deputy Chief FOIA Public Liaison Officer – Judi Hollingsworth

(877) 627-FOIA