FOIA

Special Announcement

To facilitate the FOIA request process during the COVID-19 pandemic, please submit all requests electronically if possible. The CFTC cannot guarantee timely receipt of FOIA requests sent through the mail or via facsimile at this time.

FOIA

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Title 5 of the United States Code, section 552, provides that any person has the right to request access to Federal agency records or information.  All agencies of the United States government are required to disclose records upon receiving a written request for them, except for those records that are protected from disclosure by the nine exemptions and three exclusions of the FOIA. This right of access is enforceable in court.

The Privacy Act (PA), Title 5 of the United States Code, section 552a, establishes safeguards for the protection of records the Government collects and maintains on United States citizens and lawfully admitted permanent residents.

Public and Non-public Records

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) maintains public and non-public records. Public records generally include public comments submitted in response to rulemaking activities, various Market Reports, and CFTC opinions and orders. See Index of Publicly-Available Information for more information.  Most of the CFTC’s public records are available through the FOIA Compliance Office at CFTC Headquarters (Conventional and Electronic Reading Rooms).  A FOIA request is not required to obtain public records.

A FOIA request (How to Make a FOIA Request) is required to obtain non-public records. Non-public records include, among other things, records compiled in investigations and consumer complaints.  We will release non-public records that are not exempt from disclosure under the FOIA. If we can reasonably segregate or delete exempt information from a requested record, we will release the remainder of the record to you.

Contact Information

CFTC FOIA Compliance Office
Three Lafayette Centre
1155 21st Street, NW
Washington, DC 20581

CFTC FOIA Office Staff
Rosemary Killoy
Assistant General Counsel
Office: 202-418-5912

Bridget McFarland 
Attorney-Advisor
Office: 202-418-5319

CFTC FOIA Liaison
Jonathan Van Doren
Counsel
Office: 202-418-5505