Heritage Foundation targets federal agencies with a flood of FOIA requests

The Heritage Foundation has submitted over 50,000 Freedom of Information Act requests to federal agencies, seeking information on employees and communications that could be politically sensitive, especially for a potential Trump administration.

Sharon Lerner and Andy Kroll report for ProPublica.

In short:

The Heritage Foundation has inundated agencies like the Department of the Interior and Homeland Security with Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, focusing on key terms such as "climate change" and "diversity."
The think tank is also pushing a plan to fire tens of thousands of civil servants if Trump regains office, aiming to overhaul the federal workforce.
Government officials worry that this volume of requests disrupts agency functions and could intimidate public employees.

Key quote:

“It does ring some alarm bells as to whether this is part of an effort to either intimidate government employees or, ultimately, to fire them and replace them with people who are going to be loyal to a leader that they may prefer.”

— Noah Bookbinder, president and CEO of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington

Why this matters:

The unprecedented volume of FOIA requests risks undermining the efficiency of federal agencies and may be part of broader efforts to reshape the U.S. government workforce to align with partisan goals.

www.propublica.org

Heritage Foundation targets federal agencies with a flood of FOIA requests

Chemical giant, climate skeptics vie for seats on EPA science panel

Nutritionist Marion Nestle weighs in on 'What to Eat Now'

With Trump absent from COP30 talks, the world moves on without U.S.

Podcast: Will we artificially cool the planet?

Fossil fuel lobbyists outnumber all COP30 delegations except Brazil, report says

European Parliament backs diluted 2040 climate targets

Opponents say bill bolstering Ohio's orphan well program is too generous to the oil and gas industry

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Pennsylvania health advocates say Trump’s first 100 days in office have caused “100 harms” to local communities

“They're terrorizing these scientists because they want to keep them silent.”

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.