Reading Room Document

Application of the Freedom of Information Act to Certain Entities Within the Executive Office of the President

This opinion reviews whether certain entities within the Executive Office of the President are not "agencies" as defined by the Administrative Procedure Act and are therefore not subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). It concludes that the White House office, Domestic Council, National Security Council, Council on Internaitonal Economic Policy, and possibly Council of Economic Advisers are not considered "agencies" and thereby not subject to the FOIA. The OLC does not provide release dates for its opinions, so the release date listed is the date on which the opinion was authored. The original opinion is available at https://justice.gov/olc/page/file/935936/download.

January 30, 1973