“The concern is that they haven’t even been following their own rules previously. Even if this rule got rid of the really bad stuff, Jorjani has not been afraid to ignore the rules when it’s politically expedient or would be embarrassing for [Interior Secretary] David Bernhardt.”
Kevin Bell, staff counsel for the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility said the intent to withhold rather than provide more public information still remains clear in Interior’s latest FOIA rule.
“While the impact of some sections may have been softened, the intent of this regulation is still to provide less information to fewer requesters on a slower basis,” he said.
