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

Senator Whitehouse puts climate change on budget committee’s agenda

For more than a decade, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse gave daily warnings about the mounting threat of climate change. Now he has a powerful new perch.

Heritage Foundation targets federal agencies with a flood of FOIA requests

Hurricane Helene shifts climate change into focus for 2024 campaign

Trump's approach to disaster aid was influenced by politics, say former aides

A marine biologist calls for urgent global action on plastic pollution

Flooding from Hurricane Helene leaves North Carolina mountain residents isolated and at risk

Hurricanes’ hidden death toll lingers long after the storm ends

Hurricane Helene exposes Southeast's flood insurance gap

Florida residents struggle to rebuild after repeated hurricanes

LISTEN: Mokshda Kaul on making the clean energy transition work for all

“Coalitions become this interesting way to create buy-in.”

Op-ed: Is plastic the biggest climate threat?

A plastics treaty for the climate and health must address overproduction of plastics and head off the petrochemical and plastic industry’s planned expansion.

Residents say Pennsylvania has failed communities after state studies linked fracking to child cancer

Last year Pennsylvania Department of Health studies showed increased risk of childhood cancer, asthma and low birth weights for people living near fracking. Advocates say not enough has been done since.

The fossil fuel industry is disproportionately harming low-income and minority women: Report

“Women, in all of their diversity, must be at the center of climate and energy decision-making.”

Op-ed: People need shelter from climate change — their health hangs in the balance

The discourse on climate resilience must include affordable housing policy solutions.

As Biden prepares to block the sale of U.S. Steel to Nippon Steel, pollution concerns persist in Pennsylvania

“Pennsylvania steel communities have lived with dangerous air quality for generations. That needs to end.”