Federal Agencies Will Use AI to Redact FOIA Files

The government will implement artificial intelligence tools to accelerate document processing by late 2026.

Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a large, geometric steel storage cabinet, representing government information infrastructure. — U.S. federal agencies will implement AI tools by 2026 to accelerate the redaction process for Freedom of Information Act requests. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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U.S. federal agencies will begin using artificial intelligence to assist with document redaction for Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. This strategy aims to significantly decrease processing times for public information inquiries.

Why it matters

Federal agencies currently struggle with long processing backlogs for public document requests. Integrating AI tools is expected to streamline operations and improve the speed at which citizens receive requested information.

Agencies intend to use AI for 10 percent of FOIA request documents by September 2026. This initiative is expected to cover between 100,000 and 140,000 documents using automated redaction systems.

The players

Department of Homeland Security

This federal cabinet department is responsible for public security and oversees the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency.

Department of Justice

This federal executive department is responsible for the enforcement of federal laws and the administration of justice in the United States.

Department of Health and Human Services

This cabinet-level department of the federal government oversees public health services and various social programs.

The details

Human officers will continue to review AI recommendations before finalizing any document redactions to ensure accuracy. Different agencies are deploying varied software, such as the Department of Justice's use of Veriton's aiWARE and the Department of Health and Human Services' development of its own FRED tool.

September 2026 is the deadline for the Department of Homeland Security to have AI handle 10 percent of FOIA documents.

The Tech Race

This move marks a shift from manual, labor-intensive review processes toward automated systems to satisfy mandates under the Freedom of Information Act. It positions federal IT infrastructure to compete with private sector data-processing capabilities.

Citizens requesting government records should eventually experience faster turnaround times on their inquiries. Because human officers maintain final review authority, the security of sensitive personal or privileged information remains subject to oversight.

The takeaway

The government is prioritizing automation to handle the rising volume of public data requests. Implementing these digital tools aims to modernize bureaucratic workflows while preserving essential human oversight in the redaction process.