What is the purpose of the Freedom of Information Act?

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) serves the significant purpose of promoting transparency and accountability in the federal government by providing the public with the right to access government information. This act facilitates access to a wide range of records held by federal agencies, ensuring that citizens are informed about government actions and decisions. By allowing individuals to request access to documents and data, FOIA supports the principles of an open government and enables greater engagement and oversight by the public.

The options that suggest restricting access to data, mandating the destruction of records, or creating a private database do not align with the core intent of the FOIA, which is fundamentally about enhancing public access, rather than limiting it or managing government records in a way that would deny transparency.