Director Niquelle Allen's Testimony - MOLC Performance Oversight Hearing

Summary of Director Allen's Testimony: On February 4, 2025, Director Allen provided Councilmember Anita Bonds, Chairperson, the Committee on Executive Administration and Labor’s (“CEAL”) with written testimony to become part of January 29, 2025, CEAL hearing record of Performance Oversight Hearing of the Mayor's Office of Legal Counsel (MOLC). My testimony concerns the D.C. FOIA appeal process, and it highlights the need to amend legislation to enlarge the currently inadequate processing time of administrative appeals. It also advocates for an amendment to D.C. FOIA to provide a mediation process for D.C. agencies and requesters. Under this framework, the Office of Open Government would officially serve as the “DC FOIA Ombudsman,” like the federal government’s Office of Government Information Services (OGIS).