When a member of the public asks for information, the Postal Service is obligated to provide it — but there are rules about such requests that everyone must follow.
The Freedom of Information Act, or FOIA, gives the public the right to access records from any federal agency, including USPS.
FOIA requires those seeking information to make their requests in a way that reasonably describes the records they’re seeking. They also must make their requests in accordance with published rules and procedures.
The Postal Service must make reasonable attempts to search for the requested records. For example, employees who are asked to fulfill a FOIA request should use appropriate search terms and look in places where relevant documents are likely to be found.
In some cases, a request may be overly broad — such as one that doesn’t include the subject matter, geographical location, general time frame or other details needed to identify and retrieve the desired records.
When that happens, the Postal Service is obliged to communicate with the requestor to clarify and narrow the request.
Employees who need additional guidance can email the USPS Privacy and Records Management Office or call 202-268-2608.