American Oversight
@americanoversight.org
We're a nonpartisan, nonprofit watchdog that advances truth, accountability, and democracy by enforcing the public's right to government records.
Last year, the Trump admin directed federal law enforcement to treat ideas like “anti-capitalism” and “extremism on race and gender” as signs of domestic terrorism.
Records we obtained show at least 13 IRS employees and two from DOJ assigned to the work.
talkingpointsmemo.com/news/fbi-nsp...
Records we obtained show at least 13 IRS employees and two from DOJ assigned to the work.
talkingpointsmemo.com/news/fbi-nsp...
September 16, 2026 at 6:02 PM
Last year, the Trump admin directed federal law enforcement to treat ideas like “anti-capitalism” and “extremism on race and gender” as signs of domestic terrorism.
Records we obtained show at least 13 IRS employees and two from DOJ assigned to the work.
talkingpointsmemo.com/news/fbi-nsp...
Records we obtained show at least 13 IRS employees and two from DOJ assigned to the work.
talkingpointsmemo.com/news/fbi-nsp...
Saphier is Trump’s nominee to be surgeon general. Stephanie Haridopolos has been serving as the interim surgeon general and has advanced Health Sec. Robert Kennedy Jr.’s agenda. We sent records requests to investigate her previous work on Florida’s Board of Medicine.
September 16, 2026 at 4:20 PM
Saphier is Trump’s nominee to be surgeon general. Stephanie Haridopolos has been serving as the interim surgeon general and has advanced Health Sec. Robert Kennedy Jr.’s agenda. We sent records requests to investigate her previous work on Florida’s Board of Medicine.
Today, three of Trump’s nominees for top health positions — Chris Klomp, Nicole Saphier, and Timothy Westlake — are testifying before the Senate’s health committee.
We’ve filed FOIA requests to investigate their financial conflicts and ethics disclosures.
www.npr.org/2026/09/16/n...
We’ve filed FOIA requests to investigate their financial conflicts and ethics disclosures.
www.npr.org/2026/09/16/n...
September 16, 2026 at 4:20 PM
Today, three of Trump’s nominees for top health positions — Chris Klomp, Nicole Saphier, and Timothy Westlake — are testifying before the Senate’s health committee.
We’ve filed FOIA requests to investigate their financial conflicts and ethics disclosures.
www.npr.org/2026/09/16/n...
We’ve filed FOIA requests to investigate their financial conflicts and ethics disclosures.
www.npr.org/2026/09/16/n...
FBI Director Kash Patel has used the FBI jet to go to dates, sports events, and a golf trip — using the FBI’s resources for himself instead of Americans’ safety.
We’ve filed FOIAs for Patel’s flight logs and travel expenses — and any dissent memos about his travel.
We’ve filed FOIAs for Patel’s flight logs and travel expenses — and any dissent memos about his travel.
September 15, 2026 at 5:43 PM
FBI Director Kash Patel has used the FBI jet to go to dates, sports events, and a golf trip — using the FBI’s resources for himself instead of Americans’ safety.
We’ve filed FOIAs for Patel’s flight logs and travel expenses — and any dissent memos about his travel.
We’ve filed FOIAs for Patel’s flight logs and travel expenses — and any dissent memos about his travel.
Canada responded to the Trump admin’s tariffs with tariffs of its own — including 50% tariffs on American milk.
Canada is one of the largest importers of U.S. dairy.
We FOIAed to find out whether the Trump admin followed through on its promises to support farmers hurting from tariffs.
Canada is one of the largest importers of U.S. dairy.
We FOIAed to find out whether the Trump admin followed through on its promises to support farmers hurting from tariffs.
September 9, 2026 at 1:31 PM
Canada responded to the Trump admin’s tariffs with tariffs of its own — including 50% tariffs on American milk.
Canada is one of the largest importers of U.S. dairy.
We FOIAed to find out whether the Trump admin followed through on its promises to support farmers hurting from tariffs.
Canada is one of the largest importers of U.S. dairy.
We FOIAed to find out whether the Trump admin followed through on its promises to support farmers hurting from tariffs.
Supreme Court Justice Alito’s son, Phil, is reportedly working at the Treasury Dept.
But Justice Alito hasn’t recused himself from related cases and Treasury has declined to confirm if ethics documents were filed.
We filed FOIAs for Phil Alito’s ethics and recusal documents.
But Justice Alito hasn’t recused himself from related cases and Treasury has declined to confirm if ethics documents were filed.
We filed FOIAs for Phil Alito’s ethics and recusal documents.
September 5, 2026 at 9:15 PM
Supreme Court Justice Alito’s son, Phil, is reportedly working at the Treasury Dept.
But Justice Alito hasn’t recused himself from related cases and Treasury has declined to confirm if ethics documents were filed.
We filed FOIAs for Phil Alito’s ethics and recusal documents.
But Justice Alito hasn’t recused himself from related cases and Treasury has declined to confirm if ethics documents were filed.
We filed FOIAs for Phil Alito’s ethics and recusal documents.
This week, SCOTUS ruled that construction can continue on Trump’s White House ballroom.
We still need to know what mega corporations were promised in return for the millions of dollars pledged to fund the ballroom.
We’ve FOIAed communications with those donors.
We still need to know what mega corporations were promised in return for the millions of dollars pledged to fund the ballroom.
We’ve FOIAed communications with those donors.
September 5, 2026 at 5:06 PM
This week, SCOTUS ruled that construction can continue on Trump’s White House ballroom.
We still need to know what mega corporations were promised in return for the millions of dollars pledged to fund the ballroom.
We’ve FOIAed communications with those donors.
We still need to know what mega corporations were promised in return for the millions of dollars pledged to fund the ballroom.
We’ve FOIAed communications with those donors.
This week, DHS Sec. Markwayne Mullin said ICE could arrest people at polling places — something that would violate a law prohibiting armed agents at those sites.
We sent FOIAs for directives, memos, and legal analyses regarding potential ICE deployments.
We sent FOIAs for directives, memos, and legal analyses regarding potential ICE deployments.
September 4, 2026 at 7:45 PM
This week, DHS Sec. Markwayne Mullin said ICE could arrest people at polling places — something that would violate a law prohibiting armed agents at those sites.
We sent FOIAs for directives, memos, and legal analyses regarding potential ICE deployments.
We sent FOIAs for directives, memos, and legal analyses regarding potential ICE deployments.
Supreme Court Justice Alito’s son, Phil, has reportedly been working for the Treasury Dept.
Justice Alito hasn’t recused himself from related cases and Treasury has declined to confirm if ethics documents were filed.
We sent FOIAs for Phil Alito’s ethics and recusal documents.
Justice Alito hasn’t recused himself from related cases and Treasury has declined to confirm if ethics documents were filed.
We sent FOIAs for Phil Alito’s ethics and recusal documents.
September 2, 2026 at 7:45 PM
Supreme Court Justice Alito’s son, Phil, has reportedly been working for the Treasury Dept.
Justice Alito hasn’t recused himself from related cases and Treasury has declined to confirm if ethics documents were filed.
We sent FOIAs for Phil Alito’s ethics and recusal documents.
Justice Alito hasn’t recused himself from related cases and Treasury has declined to confirm if ethics documents were filed.
We sent FOIAs for Phil Alito’s ethics and recusal documents.
The FBI has been investigating unfounded claims of election fraud in the 2020 election and has reportedly been speaking with election officials in Wisconsin.
We need to know who they’re speaking to and what info is being shared. We filed FOIAs to find out.
We need to know who they’re speaking to and what info is being shared. We filed FOIAs to find out.
September 2, 2026 at 12:15 AM
The FBI has been investigating unfounded claims of election fraud in the 2020 election and has reportedly been speaking with election officials in Wisconsin.
We need to know who they’re speaking to and what info is being shared. We filed FOIAs to find out.
We need to know who they’re speaking to and what info is being shared. We filed FOIAs to find out.
DHS Sec. Markwayne Mullin recently claimed — without evidence — that there were 250,000 noncitizens registered to vote in CA, PA NJ, and NV.
Baseless claims like this can undermine confidence in our elections.
We FOIAed the sources and talking points used for Mullin’s speech.
Baseless claims like this can undermine confidence in our elections.
We FOIAed the sources and talking points used for Mullin’s speech.
September 1, 2026 at 7:12 PM
DHS Sec. Markwayne Mullin recently claimed — without evidence — that there were 250,000 noncitizens registered to vote in CA, PA NJ, and NV.
Baseless claims like this can undermine confidence in our elections.
We FOIAed the sources and talking points used for Mullin’s speech.
Baseless claims like this can undermine confidence in our elections.
We FOIAed the sources and talking points used for Mullin’s speech.
DHS Sec. Mullins is reportedly requiring states to participate in DHS’s election monitoring in order to receive certain counter-terrorism grants.
We sent FOIAs for key communications and final legal justifications regarding this requirement.
We sent FOIAs for key communications and final legal justifications regarding this requirement.
August 27, 2026 at 7:45 PM
DHS Sec. Mullins is reportedly requiring states to participate in DHS’s election monitoring in order to receive certain counter-terrorism grants.
We sent FOIAs for key communications and final legal justifications regarding this requirement.
We sent FOIAs for key communications and final legal justifications regarding this requirement.
Screwworm parasites were eradicated in the US in the 1960s. But the parasite has recently been detected in Texas and New Mexico, creating big problems for the beef industry.
We sent FOIAs to investigate how the USDA plans to tackle the problem — and if it’s playing favorites.
We sent FOIAs to investigate how the USDA plans to tackle the problem — and if it’s playing favorites.
August 26, 2026 at 8:25 PM
Screwworm parasites were eradicated in the US in the 1960s. But the parasite has recently been detected in Texas and New Mexico, creating big problems for the beef industry.
We sent FOIAs to investigate how the USDA plans to tackle the problem — and if it’s playing favorites.
We sent FOIAs to investigate how the USDA plans to tackle the problem — and if it’s playing favorites.
Flock has contracts with 40% of all law enforcement agencies in the U.S.
We need to know if ICE is accessing this data through its 287(g) partnerships with local law enforcement.
We filed public records requests to investigate.
www.nytimes.com/2026/08/10/u...
We need to know if ICE is accessing this data through its 287(g) partnerships with local law enforcement.
We filed public records requests to investigate.
www.nytimes.com/2026/08/10/u...
August 26, 2026 at 1:05 PM
Flock has contracts with 40% of all law enforcement agencies in the U.S.
We need to know if ICE is accessing this data through its 287(g) partnerships with local law enforcement.
We filed public records requests to investigate.
www.nytimes.com/2026/08/10/u...
We need to know if ICE is accessing this data through its 287(g) partnerships with local law enforcement.
We filed public records requests to investigate.
www.nytimes.com/2026/08/10/u...
Freedom 250 just put on an IndyCar race in DC.
This summer, arrests at the Reflecting Pool and the deputization of state law enforcement raised concerns about policing at Freedom 250 events.
Records we obtained show 71 officers from 23 states were deputized for Freedom 250.
This summer, arrests at the Reflecting Pool and the deputization of state law enforcement raised concerns about policing at Freedom 250 events.
Records we obtained show 71 officers from 23 states were deputized for Freedom 250.
August 23, 2026 at 5:15 PM
Freedom 250 just put on an IndyCar race in DC.
This summer, arrests at the Reflecting Pool and the deputization of state law enforcement raised concerns about policing at Freedom 250 events.
Records we obtained show 71 officers from 23 states were deputized for Freedom 250.
This summer, arrests at the Reflecting Pool and the deputization of state law enforcement raised concerns about policing at Freedom 250 events.
Records we obtained show 71 officers from 23 states were deputized for Freedom 250.
Freedom 250 is putting on an IndyCar race in DC.
Earlier this summer, arrests at the Reflecting Pool and the deputization of state law enforcement raised concerns about policing at Freedom 250 events.
Records we obtained show 71 officers from 23 states were deputized for Freedom 250.
Earlier this summer, arrests at the Reflecting Pool and the deputization of state law enforcement raised concerns about policing at Freedom 250 events.
Records we obtained show 71 officers from 23 states were deputized for Freedom 250.
August 21, 2026 at 4:30 PM
Freedom 250 is putting on an IndyCar race in DC.
Earlier this summer, arrests at the Reflecting Pool and the deputization of state law enforcement raised concerns about policing at Freedom 250 events.
Records we obtained show 71 officers from 23 states were deputized for Freedom 250.
Earlier this summer, arrests at the Reflecting Pool and the deputization of state law enforcement raised concerns about policing at Freedom 250 events.
Records we obtained show 71 officers from 23 states were deputized for Freedom 250.
ICE has reportedly been taking DNA samples from protesters they arrest, raising concerns that it is building a DNA database.
We want to know how ICE is retaining and/or using DNA samples, and if this has increased in the last year. We FOIAed to find out.
We want to know how ICE is retaining and/or using DNA samples, and if this has increased in the last year. We FOIAed to find out.
August 20, 2026 at 7:44 PM
ICE has reportedly been taking DNA samples from protesters they arrest, raising concerns that it is building a DNA database.
We want to know how ICE is retaining and/or using DNA samples, and if this has increased in the last year. We FOIAed to find out.
We want to know how ICE is retaining and/or using DNA samples, and if this has increased in the last year. We FOIAed to find out.
We asked 13 agencies for their policies on using AI to deregulate.
August 20, 2026 at 3:35 PM
We asked 13 agencies for their policies on using AI to deregulate.
This weekend, Freedom 250 will put on an IndyCar race in DC — shutting down the streets and grounding air traffic.
This is yet another Freedom 250 event that seems to be more about Trump than the country as a whole.
We sent FOIAs that could show how Freedom 250 is funded.
This is yet another Freedom 250 event that seems to be more about Trump than the country as a whole.
We sent FOIAs that could show how Freedom 250 is funded.
August 19, 2026 at 4:02 PM
This weekend, Freedom 250 will put on an IndyCar race in DC — shutting down the streets and grounding air traffic.
This is yet another Freedom 250 event that seems to be more about Trump than the country as a whole.
We sent FOIAs that could show how Freedom 250 is funded.
This is yet another Freedom 250 event that seems to be more about Trump than the country as a whole.
We sent FOIAs that could show how Freedom 250 is funded.
WIRED obtained records that suggest federal immigration agents are using government databases to spy on people in their personal lives.
We need to know if ICE has any safeguards to stop this. We’ve FOIAed ICE’s protocols regarding surveillance technologies.
www.wired.com/story/cbp-wo...
We need to know if ICE has any safeguards to stop this. We’ve FOIAed ICE’s protocols regarding surveillance technologies.
www.wired.com/story/cbp-wo...
August 13, 2026 at 6:48 PM
WIRED obtained records that suggest federal immigration agents are using government databases to spy on people in their personal lives.
We need to know if ICE has any safeguards to stop this. We’ve FOIAed ICE’s protocols regarding surveillance technologies.
www.wired.com/story/cbp-wo...
We need to know if ICE has any safeguards to stop this. We’ve FOIAed ICE’s protocols regarding surveillance technologies.
www.wired.com/story/cbp-wo...
The Trump admin gave a no-bid contract to repaint the reflecting pool to a company that reportedly had worked at a Trump golf course.
The pool already needs more repairs—but the admin isn’t getting new bids to fix it.
We FOIAed contract documents and communications about failing paint.
The pool already needs more repairs—but the admin isn’t getting new bids to fix it.
We FOIAed contract documents and communications about failing paint.
August 12, 2026 at 3:36 PM
The Trump admin gave a no-bid contract to repaint the reflecting pool to a company that reportedly had worked at a Trump golf course.
The pool already needs more repairs—but the admin isn’t getting new bids to fix it.
We FOIAed contract documents and communications about failing paint.
The pool already needs more repairs—but the admin isn’t getting new bids to fix it.
We FOIAed contract documents and communications about failing paint.
Flock has contracts with 40% of all law enforcement agencies in the U.S.
We need to know if ICE is accessing this data through its 287(g) partnerships with local law enforcement.
We filed public records requests to investigate.
www.nytimes.com/2026/08/10/u...
We need to know if ICE is accessing this data through its 287(g) partnerships with local law enforcement.
We filed public records requests to investigate.
www.nytimes.com/2026/08/10/u...
August 11, 2026 at 1:30 PM
Flock has contracts with 40% of all law enforcement agencies in the U.S.
We need to know if ICE is accessing this data through its 287(g) partnerships with local law enforcement.
We filed public records requests to investigate.
www.nytimes.com/2026/08/10/u...
We need to know if ICE is accessing this data through its 287(g) partnerships with local law enforcement.
We filed public records requests to investigate.
www.nytimes.com/2026/08/10/u...
Screwworm parasites were eradicated in the US in the 1960s. But the parasite has recently been detected in Texas and New Mexico, creating big problems for the beef industry.
We sent FOIAs to investigate how the USDA plans to tackle the problem and if it’s playing favorites.
We sent FOIAs to investigate how the USDA plans to tackle the problem and if it’s playing favorites.
August 10, 2026 at 4:05 PM
Screwworm parasites were eradicated in the US in the 1960s. But the parasite has recently been detected in Texas and New Mexico, creating big problems for the beef industry.
We sent FOIAs to investigate how the USDA plans to tackle the problem and if it’s playing favorites.
We sent FOIAs to investigate how the USDA plans to tackle the problem and if it’s playing favorites.
The backlog of immigration cases is now in the millions.
Yet the Trump admin is firing experienced immigration judges and replacing them with military lawyers.
We need to know if these lawyers are prepared for this role, so we FOIAed their trainings.
Yet the Trump admin is firing experienced immigration judges and replacing them with military lawyers.
We need to know if these lawyers are prepared for this role, so we FOIAed their trainings.
August 9, 2026 at 11:45 AM
The backlog of immigration cases is now in the millions.
Yet the Trump admin is firing experienced immigration judges and replacing them with military lawyers.
We need to know if these lawyers are prepared for this role, so we FOIAed their trainings.
Yet the Trump admin is firing experienced immigration judges and replacing them with military lawyers.
We need to know if these lawyers are prepared for this role, so we FOIAed their trainings.
ICE isn’t just surveilling immigrants — it’s surveilling all of us.
We need to know more about how ICE is using facial recognition and mass surveillance technologies.
We FOIAed ICE for internal documents including surveillance liability assessments and policies.
We need to know more about how ICE is using facial recognition and mass surveillance technologies.
We FOIAed ICE for internal documents including surveillance liability assessments and policies.
August 8, 2026 at 8:45 PM
ICE isn’t just surveilling immigrants — it’s surveilling all of us.
We need to know more about how ICE is using facial recognition and mass surveillance technologies.
We FOIAed ICE for internal documents including surveillance liability assessments and policies.
We need to know more about how ICE is using facial recognition and mass surveillance technologies.
We FOIAed ICE for internal documents including surveillance liability assessments and policies.