Which statement about the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is accurate?

• A. The FOIA was enacted to make government information available to the public
• B. The FOIA was enacted to restrict public access to records
• C. The FOIA applies only to federal agencies
• D. The FOIA requires agencies to publish operating manuals annually

Answer: (A)

FOIA is about giving the public a right to access government records held by federal agencies, with a framework that promotes transparency and accountability. When you request records, agencies generally must disclose them unless the information is protected by one of FOIA’s exemptions or by other laws. That intent—to make information accessible unless there’s a valid reason to withhold it—is why this statement is the accurate one.

The other ideas don’t fit because FOIA isn’t about restricting access; it’s about creating a process to obtain information. It covers federal agencies, not state or local entities, and it doesn’t require agencies to publish operating manuals every year.