Freedom of Information Act

Electronic Reading Room

FOIA was enacted in 1966 to provide universal access to official information. It was previously amended in 1974, 1986 and 1996. The DoD FOIA regulation is now available at the DoD electronic FOIA reading room at http://www.defenselink.mil/pubs/foi/ (external link).

This electronic reading room supplements the DoD electronic FOIA reading room and contains records described in 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(2)(A), (B), (C), and (D). Similar information is available in hard copy in the FOIA reading room located at DFAS Headquarters for inspection and copying, unless such records are published and copies are offered for sale.

DoD policy is to conduct its activities in an open manner and provide the public with a maximum amount of accurate and timely information concerning its activities. Records are defined as the products of data compilation, such as all books, papers, maps, and photographs, machine readable materials, inclusive of those in electronic form or format, or other documentary materials, regardless of physical form or characteristics, made or received by an agency of the United States Government under Federal law in connection with the transaction of public business and in Department of Defense possession and control at the time the FOIA request is made.

However, information in some records may be withheld from public disclosure and need not be made available. Categories that are exempt from FOIA:

Classified information
Internal rules and practices
Information denied by other specific withholding statutes
Trade secrets and commercial or financial information given in confidence
Inter and Intra-Agency communication, primarily deliberative in nature
Personal information protected by the Privacy Act
Investigative information compiled for law enforcement
Reports on financial institutions

FOIA requests can be addressed to :

Linda Krabbenhoft
FOIA/PA Program Manager
Corporate Communications
DFAS-DCC/DE
6760 E. Irvington Place
Denver, CO 80279-8000
Telephone (303) 676-6045
FAX (303) 676-7710

National Archives and Records Administration, SF Form 180, Request Pertaining to Military (Personnel) Records, may also be used to request Military Payroll records from DFAS. See the FOIA/PA Handbook link for the location of where to send your SF 180 for Military Payroll records.