Purpose
Resouces to assist users with FOIA-related questions and tasks, including the submitting and tracking of FOIA requests.
PAL Reading Room
FOIA Public Access Link (PAL) is a comprehensive electronic tool that provides requesters with basic information on how to get CDC records.
The materials on this page are provided as distributed to the requestors, and therefore some materials may not fully conform to applicable standards for use by persons with disabilities per Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. Members of the public may request an accessible copy by filling out the form on our Accessibility contact page. PLEASE NOTE: The accessible copy may be altered to meet disclosure requirements, but will contain the same information presented here.
If you have not received an acknowledgement letter within 2 weeks of submitting your request, email FOIARequests@cdc.gov to check request's status.
E-Z Guide to FOIA Exemptions
Exemption 1 – protects national security information concerning national defense or foreign relations.
Exemption 2 – covers records related solely to internal personnel rules and practices of an agency. Low 2 – trivial requests involving matters of no public interest. High 2 – disclosure would allow circumvention of agency regulations.
Exemption 3 – authorizes withholding of information prohibited from disclosure by another Federal statute .
Exemption 4 – exempts trade secrets and information which is commercial or financial.
Exemption 5 – protects records of a predecisional nature, as necessary. Such records typically contain the opinions, conclusions, or recommendations of the author and are part of the decision-making/deliberative process. Encompasses inter-agency or intra-agency memoranda or documents; attorney-work product; attorney-client communications.
Exemption 6 – provides protection for personal privacy interests; permits withholding documents if disclosure would be a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.
Exemption 7 – protects from mandatory disclosure records compiled for law enforcement proceedings. Protects identities of personal information and confidential sources. Protects records in their entirety on ongoing investigations.
Exemption 8 – covers matters contained in or related to reports prepared by or for use by an agency responsible for regulation of financial institutions.
Exemption 9 – pertains to geological and geophysical information and data concerning wells and includes maps.