OPEN Government Act of 2007

Citation: Openness Promotes Efficiency in our National Government Act of 2007 (OPEN Government Act).

Overview
The Act was signed by President Bush on December 31, 2007. It amended the FOIA and codified several provisions in Executive Order 13392. The Act established a definition of news media representatives, to ensure that the FOIA Offices consider the continuing evolution of methods of news delivery. The Act also directed that court awarded attorneys’ fees be paid from an agency’s own appropriation, prohibited agencies from assessing certain fees if it fails to comply with FOIA deadlines, and established an Office of Government Information Services at the National Archives and Records Administration to review agency compliance with FOIA.