What did the declassified documents reveal?

The FBI's FOIA Processing Manual – aka "The Green Book" Released in 2018, this document is a set of guidelines for agency officials in charge of responding to FOIA requests. The Black Vault has made this document available online, and it is stored in the FBI's archives. The Green Book contains volumes of numbered memos from directors and other officials in the agency's FOIA department, instructing FOIA officials on how to respond to requests regarding certain procedures the FBI conducts, organizations under surveillance by the agency, and other persons and events of interest. This document was released to the public through a Freedom of Information Act request, and it is now available online through The Black Vault. The document begins with a letter to Mr. John Greenewald Jr., dated September 14, 2018, from David M. Hardy, Section Chief, Record/Information Dissemination Section, Information Management Division. Records responsive to your request were previously processed under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Below you will find informational paragraphs relevant to your request. Please read each item carefully. A search of the Central Records System maintained at FBI Headquarters indicated that records responsive to your request have been sent to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). Since these records were previously processed under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, we are providing you a copy of the previously processed documents. Please be advised if this release of previously processed material does not satisfy your information needs for this request, you may make a request to NARA at the following address, using file number insert FILE NUMBER as a reference. National Archives and Records Administration 8601 Adelphi Road College Park, MD 20740-6001 A search of the Central Records System maintained at FBI Headquarters indicated that records responsive to your request were destroyed on DATE IF KNOWN. Record retention and disposal is carried out under supervision of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Title 44, United States Code, Section 3301 as implemented by Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1228; Title 44, United States Code, Section 3310 as implemented by Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1229.10. Since these records were previously processed under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, we are providing you a copy of the previously processed documents. Enclosed are 195 pages of previously processed documents and a copy of the Explanation of Exemptions. This release is being provided to you at no charge. Documents or information referred to other Government agencies were not included in this release. Please be advised that additional records potentially responsive to your subject may exist. If this release of previously processed material does not satisfy your information needs for this request, you may request an additional…

Why was this case declassified?

This material entered the public record through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process.

The Fbi’s FOIA Processing Manual – Aka “the Green Book”

◆ BLUF — The short version

The FBI's FOIA Processing Manual – aka "The Green Book" Released in 2018, this document is a set of guidelines for agency officials in charge of responding to FOIA requests. The Black Vault has made this document available online, and it is stored in the FBI's archives.

Date: JUL 5 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)

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What was The Fbi’s FOIA Processing Manual – Aka “the Green Book” about?: The FBI's FOIA Processing Manual – aka "The Green Book" Released in 2018, this document is a set of guidelines for agency officials in charge of responding to FOIA requests. The Black Vault has made this document available online, and it is stored in the FBI's archives.
Why was this case declassified?: This material entered the public record through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. Storyflo narrates it directly from the public release.

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The Fbi’s FOIA Processing Manual – Aka “the Green Book”

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