Liz Hempowicz
@lizhempowicz.bsky.social
Fighting for transparency and accountability in government.
Reposted by Liz Hempowicz
Government transparency is the lifeblood of our democracy.
We’ve filed thousands of public records requests this year and are ready to go to court when government officials attempt to keep documents hidden.
Read more about our latest accountability work:
americanoversight.org
We’ve filed thousands of public records requests this year and are ready to go to court when government officials attempt to keep documents hidden.
Read more about our latest accountability work:
americanoversight.org
October 1, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Government transparency is the lifeblood of our democracy.
We’ve filed thousands of public records requests this year and are ready to go to court when government officials attempt to keep documents hidden.
Read more about our latest accountability work:
americanoversight.org
We’ve filed thousands of public records requests this year and are ready to go to court when government officials attempt to keep documents hidden.
Read more about our latest accountability work:
americanoversight.org
Reposted by Liz Hempowicz
The public has a right to know why the White House is trampling on D.C.’s home rule and deploying the Guard into another American city.
That’s why we went to court for records on Trump’s federal power grab targeting D.C. and immigrant communities.
americanoversight.org/american-ove...
That’s why we went to court for records on Trump’s federal power grab targeting D.C. and immigrant communities.
americanoversight.org/american-ove...
American Oversight Sues for Records on Trump’s Federal Power Grab Targeting D.C. and Immigrant Communities - American Oversight
American Oversight demands transparency on Trump’s politicized use of federal power – from immigration enforcement to the unprecedented federalization of D.C. Police.
americanoversight.org
August 27, 2025 at 1:30 PM
The public has a right to know why the White House is trampling on D.C.’s home rule and deploying the Guard into another American city.
That’s why we went to court for records on Trump’s federal power grab targeting D.C. and immigrant communities.
americanoversight.org/american-ove...
That’s why we went to court for records on Trump’s federal power grab targeting D.C. and immigrant communities.
americanoversight.org/american-ove...
Reposted by Liz Hempowicz
We filed FOIA requests with DHS for records—including texts—regarding the June deployment of the National Guard to LA.
DHS told us it can no longer search for text messages.
And it hasn’t maintained that data since April.
This is unlawful and alarming.
americanoversight.org/american-ove...
DHS told us it can no longer search for text messages.
And it hasn’t maintained that data since April.
This is unlawful and alarming.
americanoversight.org/american-ove...
August 23, 2025 at 1:14 AM
We filed FOIA requests with DHS for records—including texts—regarding the June deployment of the National Guard to LA.
DHS told us it can no longer search for text messages.
And it hasn’t maintained that data since April.
This is unlawful and alarming.
americanoversight.org/american-ove...
DHS told us it can no longer search for text messages.
And it hasn’t maintained that data since April.
This is unlawful and alarming.
americanoversight.org/american-ove...
Reposted by Liz Hempowicz
NEW: We’re suing the IRS, the Treasury, and the Department of Education for records related to Trump’s unprecedented political attacks on Harvard.
Today it’s Harvard. Tomorrow it could be any university, nonprofit, or foundation that serves the public.
americanoversight.org/american-ove...
Today it’s Harvard. Tomorrow it could be any university, nonprofit, or foundation that serves the public.
americanoversight.org/american-ove...
American Oversight Sues IRS Over Trump Admin’s Escalating Political Attacks Against Harvard - American Oversight
The Harvard case is a bellwether in the Trump administration's widening attacks on entities committed to the public good.
americanoversight.org
May 19, 2025 at 3:06 PM
NEW: We’re suing the IRS, the Treasury, and the Department of Education for records related to Trump’s unprecedented political attacks on Harvard.
Today it’s Harvard. Tomorrow it could be any university, nonprofit, or foundation that serves the public.
americanoversight.org/american-ove...
Today it’s Harvard. Tomorrow it could be any university, nonprofit, or foundation that serves the public.
americanoversight.org/american-ove...
Reposted by Liz Hempowicz
Trump has turned the IRS and other federal agencies into political weapons—targeting those who don’t fall in line.
The latest target? Harvard.
americanoversight.org/american-ove...
The latest target? Harvard.
americanoversight.org/american-ove...
American Oversight Sues IRS Over Trump Admin’s Escalating Political Attacks Against Harvard - American Oversight
The Harvard case is a bellwether in the Trump administration's widening attacks on entities committed to the public good.
americanoversight.org
May 19, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Trump has turned the IRS and other federal agencies into political weapons—targeting those who don’t fall in line.
The latest target? Harvard.
americanoversight.org/american-ove...
The latest target? Harvard.
americanoversight.org/american-ove...
Reposted by Liz Hempowicz
Trump has also sought to abuse the IRS to further his anti-immigrant goals.
We recently succeeded in getting redactions lifted on an agreement between ICE and the IRS, which could compromise the personal information of millions of taxpayers.
americanoversight.org/heres-what-t...
We recently succeeded in getting redactions lifted on an agreement between ICE and the IRS, which could compromise the personal information of millions of taxpayers.
americanoversight.org/heres-what-t...
Here’s What the Government Tried to Keep Hidden in the IRS-ICE Data-Sharing Agreement - American Oversight
The unsealing of key documents, including the agreement itself, reveals not only what taxpayer data ICE is seeking from the IRS, but also the highly questionable justifications the government used to ...
americanoversight.org
May 19, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Trump has also sought to abuse the IRS to further his anti-immigrant goals.
We recently succeeded in getting redactions lifted on an agreement between ICE and the IRS, which could compromise the personal information of millions of taxpayers.
americanoversight.org/heres-what-t...
We recently succeeded in getting redactions lifted on an agreement between ICE and the IRS, which could compromise the personal information of millions of taxpayers.
americanoversight.org/heres-what-t...
Reposted by Liz Hempowicz
Cuts to the Social Security Administration — slashing the workforce, closing field offices, and implementing new policy changes — will directly impact millions of Americans.
They deserve answers.
americanoversight.org/american-ove...
They deserve answers.
americanoversight.org/american-ove...
American Oversight Launches Investigation into Trump Administration’s Plan to Gut Social Security - American Oversight
Our investigation follows reports that the Trump administration plans to slash the Social Security workforce and implement changes to make it harder to qualify for assistance.
americanoversight.org
April 14, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Cuts to the Social Security Administration — slashing the workforce, closing field offices, and implementing new policy changes — will directly impact millions of Americans.
They deserve answers.
americanoversight.org/american-ove...
They deserve answers.
americanoversight.org/american-ove...
Reposted by Liz Hempowicz
Never in my decade of filing FOIA requests have I gotten a response like this. Customs and Border Protection denies my request, saying "Due to law enforcement sensitivities we can neither confirm nor deny the existence of records." No exemption cited, no name of who wrote this.
April 3, 2025 at 12:57 AM
Never in my decade of filing FOIA requests have I gotten a response like this. Customs and Border Protection denies my request, saying "Due to law enforcement sensitivities we can neither confirm nor deny the existence of records." No exemption cited, no name of who wrote this.
Reposted by Liz Hempowicz
1) DOGE firing an entire FOIA office doesn't negate an agency's statutory requirements to process FOIAs. Even if the agency is taken down to bare bones. They are still required to process FOIAs.
2) There will be no way to rebuild what DOGE breaks if there are are no records to use as a roadmap.
2) There will be no way to rebuild what DOGE breaks if there are are no records to use as a roadmap.
NEW: CDC FOIA page are being dismantled, including pages containing FOIA request logs and the portal to submit FOIA requests.
NEW: The entire CDC #FOIA office — nearly two dozen people — received RIF notices. FOIA personnel at FDA and NIH were also dismissed. The CDC has seen a massive uptick in FOIA requests this year. It’s the second busiest year since Covid.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
April 1, 2025 at 8:37 PM
1) DOGE firing an entire FOIA office doesn't negate an agency's statutory requirements to process FOIAs. Even if the agency is taken down to bare bones. They are still required to process FOIAs.
2) There will be no way to rebuild what DOGE breaks if there are are no records to use as a roadmap.
2) There will be no way to rebuild what DOGE breaks if there are are no records to use as a roadmap.
Reposted by Liz Hempowicz
“It shouldn’t matter who is overseeing this case or any others. What matters is whether or not there is a violation of the law.”
americanoversight.org/court-orders...
americanoversight.org/court-orders...
March 28, 2025 at 6:33 PM
“It shouldn’t matter who is overseeing this case or any others. What matters is whether or not there is a violation of the law.”
americanoversight.org/court-orders...
americanoversight.org/court-orders...
Reposted by Liz Hempowicz
Today, the court ordered officials to preserve Signal messages sent between March 11 and 15. “We know that it’s a first step,” said AO’s Chioma Chukwu. “There’s a lot more work to be done here.”
Support our work and join the fight for our democracy: americanoversight.org/contribute/
Support our work and join the fight for our democracy: americanoversight.org/contribute/
March 28, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Today, the court ordered officials to preserve Signal messages sent between March 11 and 15. “We know that it’s a first step,” said AO’s Chioma Chukwu. “There’s a lot more work to be done here.”
Support our work and join the fight for our democracy: americanoversight.org/contribute/
Support our work and join the fight for our democracy: americanoversight.org/contribute/
Reposted by Liz Hempowicz
“We’re going to have to keep going, because you can’t believe what the administration says. You have to watch what it does.” www.nytimes.com/2025/03/27/u...
Another Problem With That Signal Chat? The Messages Disappear.
The Presidential Records Act and the Federal Records Act require officials to preserve communications related to government business.
www.nytimes.com
March 28, 2025 at 1:43 AM
“We’re going to have to keep going, because you can’t believe what the administration says. You have to watch what it does.” www.nytimes.com/2025/03/27/u...
Reposted by Liz Hempowicz
NEW: A federal court just ordered the Trump administration to preserve Signal messages from March 11–15. The ruling comes in our lawsuit against top officials for violations of federal records laws.
americanoversight.org/court-orders...
americanoversight.org/court-orders...
Court Orders Trump Administration to Preserve Signal Messages in American Oversight Lawsuit - American Oversight
The court granted a temporary restraining order to halt the deletion of critical national security communications and preserve Signal communications from March 11–15, 2025.
americanoversight.org
March 27, 2025 at 9:19 PM
NEW: A federal court just ordered the Trump administration to preserve Signal messages from March 11–15. The ruling comes in our lawsuit against top officials for violations of federal records laws.
americanoversight.org/court-orders...
americanoversight.org/court-orders...
Reposted by Liz Hempowicz
And because Signal violated the PRA's preservation requirements, it would be Marco Rubio's job as acting archivist to refer the unlawful records destruction issue to the DOJ.
Too bad Rubio was also on the Signal chat.
Too bad Rubio was also on the Signal chat.
Public access to National Security Council records is governed by the Presidential Records Act's FOIA provisions. (That's why NSC records are generally obtained through presidential libraries). This means you can't file a FOIA for NSC records until 5 years after the end of an administration.
March 26, 2025 at 1:06 PM
And because Signal violated the PRA's preservation requirements, it would be Marco Rubio's job as acting archivist to refer the unlawful records destruction issue to the DOJ.
Too bad Rubio was also on the Signal chat.
Too bad Rubio was also on the Signal chat.
Reposted by Liz Hempowicz
NEW: We’re suing several top Trump administration officials who discussed high-level national security deliberations over Signal for violations of the Federal Records Act and Administrative Procedure Act.
americanoversight.org/litigation/a...
americanoversight.org/litigation/a...
American Oversight v. Hegseth, Gabbard, Ratcliffe, Bessent, Rubio, and NARA Regarding Military Actions Planned on Signal Messaging App - American Oversight
Lawsuit filed against Hegseth, Gabbard, Ratcliffe, Bessent, Rubio, and NARA concerning news reports that a journalist had been added to a Signal group chat among those containing potentially classifie...
americanoversight.org
March 25, 2025 at 9:51 PM
NEW: We’re suing several top Trump administration officials who discussed high-level national security deliberations over Signal for violations of the Federal Records Act and Administrative Procedure Act.
americanoversight.org/litigation/a...
americanoversight.org/litigation/a...
Reposted by Liz Hempowicz
ICYMI, @propublica.org uncovered Project 2025 training videos last summer.
And here’s where they discuss how to evade FOIA & hide their agenda from the public.
The “Houthi PC small group” didn’t arise from ignorance of the law or incompetence.
They just got caught.
And here’s where they discuss how to evade FOIA & hide their agenda from the public.
The “Houthi PC small group” didn’t arise from ignorance of the law or incompetence.
They just got caught.
March 25, 2025 at 4:52 PM
ICYMI, @propublica.org uncovered Project 2025 training videos last summer.
And here’s where they discuss how to evade FOIA & hide their agenda from the public.
The “Houthi PC small group” didn’t arise from ignorance of the law or incompetence.
They just got caught.
And here’s where they discuss how to evade FOIA & hide their agenda from the public.
The “Houthi PC small group” didn’t arise from ignorance of the law or incompetence.
They just got caught.
Reposted by Liz Hempowicz
JUST IN: American Oversight is suing Hegseth, Gabbard, Ratcliffe et al, saying their messaging via Signal is a violation of the Federal Records Act.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
March 25, 2025 at 9:40 PM
JUST IN: American Oversight is suing Hegseth, Gabbard, Ratcliffe et al, saying their messaging via Signal is a violation of the Federal Records Act.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted by Liz Hempowicz
I guess it's not surprising, but the daughter of the CEO of this ICE contractor was one of the 2020 "fake electors."
🚨NEW: This ICE contractor is running deportation flights, including those accused of violating last weekend's court order.
This company has flown under the radar, despite its ties to several national controversies, @pogo.org reveals
www.pogo.org/investigatio...
This company has flown under the radar, despite its ties to several national controversies, @pogo.org reveals
www.pogo.org/investigatio...
Meet the ICE Contractor Running Deportation Flights
CSI Aviation could make billions of dollars running deportation flights, despite its involvement in numerous high-profile controversies.
www.pogo.org
March 20, 2025 at 1:40 PM
I guess it's not surprising, but the daughter of the CEO of this ICE contractor was one of the 2020 "fake electors."
Reposted by Liz Hempowicz
News outlets everywhere should follow @wired.com's lead in dropping paywalls for primarily FOIA-based reporting.
freedom.press/issues/wired...
freedom.press/issues/wired...
Wired is dropping paywalls for FOIA-based reporting. Others should follow
As the administration does its best to hide public records from the public, Wired magazine is stepping up to help stem the secrecy
freedom.press
March 18, 2025 at 12:55 PM
News outlets everywhere should follow @wired.com's lead in dropping paywalls for primarily FOIA-based reporting.
freedom.press/issues/wired...
freedom.press/issues/wired...
Reposted by Liz Hempowicz
Totally agree with this. Flying a person to a third country that they may never have been to, directly into a prison where they are going to be forced to do hard labor, is not a deportation; it's something else entirely.
@washingtonpost.com They were not DEPORTED. Deported means sending them back to their country of origin. These people were sent to a maximum security prison in El Salvador, without any due process or any analysis as to whether they feared harm in El Salvador!
In America, EVERYONE has a RIGHT to due process - regardless of immigration status. It’s fundamental to our Constitution.
Deporting hundreds of people in secret by invoking a wartime proclamation is a blatant abuse of power by President Trump.
Deporting hundreds of people in secret by invoking a wartime proclamation is a blatant abuse of power by President Trump.
March 18, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Totally agree with this. Flying a person to a third country that they may never have been to, directly into a prison where they are going to be forced to do hard labor, is not a deportation; it's something else entirely.
Amazing way to celebrate Sunshine Week during an otherwise preeeeeeetty dark time for government transparency. Love this from @freedom.press.
They're called public records for a reason. Starting today, WIRED will *stop paywalling* articles that are primarily based on public records obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, becoming the first publication to partner with @freedom.press to offer this for our new coverage.
Wired is dropping paywalls for FOIA-based reporting. Others should follow
As the administration does its best to hide public records from the public, Wired magazine is stepping up to help stem the secrecy
freedom.press
March 18, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Amazing way to celebrate Sunshine Week during an otherwise preeeeeeetty dark time for government transparency. Love this from @freedom.press.
Reposted by Liz Hempowicz
A judge recently ruled DOGE is likely subject to FOIA.
But it’s still possible DOGE will continue operating with unchecked secrecy.
Here are the five questions whose answers will shed light on DOGE’s FOIA future.
But it’s still possible DOGE will continue operating with unchecked secrecy.
Here are the five questions whose answers will shed light on DOGE’s FOIA future.
Why will it take DOGE three years to respond to a simple FOIA?
Five important questions to ask about DOGE’s FOIA future
freedom.press
March 17, 2025 at 4:46 PM
A judge recently ruled DOGE is likely subject to FOIA.
But it’s still possible DOGE will continue operating with unchecked secrecy.
Here are the five questions whose answers will shed light on DOGE’s FOIA future.
But it’s still possible DOGE will continue operating with unchecked secrecy.
Here are the five questions whose answers will shed light on DOGE’s FOIA future.
Reposted by Liz Hempowicz
Once you establish that people can be punished because the administration doesn't like their speech, expanding the bounds of who can be treated that way becomes inevitable.
March 17, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Once you establish that people can be punished because the administration doesn't like their speech, expanding the bounds of who can be treated that way becomes inevitable.
Reposted by Liz Hempowicz
Redacted calendars. Communications on non-official accounts. Claims of “no information” in response to our requests. Why our investigation of Border Patrol Chief Mike Banks’ tenure as Texas border czar revealed more questions than answers:
americanoversight.org/where-are-tr...
americanoversight.org/where-are-tr...
Where Are Trump Border Patrol Chief Mike Banks’ Communications from His Time as Texas Border Czar? - American Oversight
The lack of records in response to American Oversight’s requests from its two-year investigation of Banks raises questions about public accountability and transparency.
americanoversight.org
March 12, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Redacted calendars. Communications on non-official accounts. Claims of “no information” in response to our requests. Why our investigation of Border Patrol Chief Mike Banks’ tenure as Texas border czar revealed more questions than answers:
americanoversight.org/where-are-tr...
americanoversight.org/where-are-tr...