Center for Effective Government v. Department of State

The Center for Effective Government (the Center) made Freedom of Information Act requests to the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development for a copy of the Presidential Policy Directive on Global Development signed by President Obama in September 2010. According to a White House fact sheet, the Directive “calls for the elevation of development as a core pillar of American power and charts a course for development, diplomacy and defense to mutually reinforce and complement one another in an integrated comprehensive approach to national security.” Both agencies refused to provide the Directive, asserting that it was exempt from disclosure under FOIA Exemption 5 as a confidential presidential communication, and the Center filed suit. The district court granted summary judgment to the Center and ordered the government to disclose the directive.

Public Citizen Litigation Group was counsel for the Center for Effective Government.