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On February 6, 2018 (83 FR 5196-5197), the Department of Defense published a final rule at 32 CFR part 286 that revised Department of Defense (DoD) Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) regulation to implement the FOIA and incorporate the provisions of the Openness Promotes Effectiveness in our National Government Act of 2007 and the FOIA Improvement Act of 2016. Subsequent to publication of the February 6, 2018 final rule, DoD is proposing to make amendments to update the listed designated FOIA Requester Service Centers and to correct language concerning the FOIA Public Liaison.

According to the FOIA, 5 U.S.C. 552, an agency may, in its regulation, designate those components that can receive FOIA requests. Additionally, the FOIA requires agencies to establish FOIA Public Liaisons, which are responsible for assisting in reducing delays, increasing transparency and understanding of the status of requests, and assisting in the resolution of disputes. DoD’s proposed revisions of the rule seek only to update the list of designated FOIA Requester Service Centers listed in 286.3 and correct language concerning the FOIA Public Liaison role from Mediation to Dispute Resolution, found in 286.4.