The rule was filed on September 18, 2026, and carries document number 2026-19223. It is scheduled for publication on September 21, 2026.

The new State Department regulation implements the Freedom of Information Act Improvement Act of 2016. The Privacy Act is American law regarding the disclosure of personal information held by the U.S. government.

Additionally, the rule will not result in expenditures of $100 million or more in any year by governments or the private sector. Susan Weetman serves as the FOIA Public Liaison for the Information Access Programs Directorate at the U.S. Department of State.

The regulation updates references to the Office of Information Programs and Services to the Information Access Programs Directorate. It also removes redundant information regarding the Information Access Programs Directorate’s role in making initial determinations.

Procedural changes include simplifying and consolidating procedures for reasonably describing records sought, such as information required for visa record requests. The rule clarifies methods used to verify identity for first-party and third-party information requests.

Appeals from denials of Privacy Act amendment requests will be decided within 30 working days unless an extension is needed for good cause. The rule updates the list of Systems of Records Notices and exemptions.

The regulation directs the public to the agency’s FOIA webpage for the list of components accepting FOIA requests, administrative appeals, and corresponding contact information. It also encourages the public to search the agency’s FOIA Library to determine whether records are already publicly available before submitting a request.

Why It Matters

The shift to mandatory electronic submission for two major State Department components aligns with broader federal efforts to digitize access to government information. By requiring use of FOIA.gov or the Department’s website, the rule centralizes the intake process for the Information Access Programs Directorate and Passport Services.

The certification that the rule will not have a substantial economic impact on small entities suggests the Department views the transition as administratively neutral for most requesters. The exemption from notice and comment procedures indicates the change is classified as procedural rather than substantive policy.

Timeline

On that same date, the rule removes redundant information regarding the Information Access Programs Directorate’s role in making initial determinations. The rule updates references to the Office of Information Programs and Services to the Information Access Programs Directorate on September 18, 2026.

The rule implements the Freedom of Information Act Improvement Act of 2016 on September 18, 2026. The Department of State certified that the rule will not have a substantial economic impact on a substantial number of small entities on September 18, 2026.

What's New

Additional reporting notes that the Department of Homeland Security finalized a rule clarifying that requesters must generally submit Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act requests electronically, effective January 22, 2026. Contextual information identifies that the Privacy Act is American law regarding the disclosure of personal information held by the U.S. government.