Overview
Accelerating Transparency: FOIA Program Support for the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General
The Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General (DHS-OIG) plays a critical oversight role through audits, inspections, and investigations aimed at improving the performance and accountability of DHS programs. As part of that mission, the FOIA Program—housed within the Office of Counsel—ensures transparency by managing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests from the public. Chickasaw Federal supports DHS-OIG’s FOIA program by enhancing operational efficiency, ensuring regulatory compliance, and advancing public access to government-held information.
Challenge & Path Forward
Chickasaw Federal staffed DHS-OIG with highly qualified FOIA professionals and provided hands-on training, mentorship, and technical expertise to sustain and grow workforce capability. Our team managed FOIA intake, appeals, and litigation while processing and redacting documents through the FOIAXpress® case management system. By integrating new technologies and proactively guiding the team through change management, Chickasaw Federal has improved responsiveness, mitigated risk, and helped institutionalize best practices across the program.
Results & Impact
Chickasaw Federal’s proactive support and targeted improvements significantly reduced a long-standing case backlog, enhanced program compliance, and contributed to greater transparency within the agency. DHS-OIG’s FOIA team, bolstered by our staff, was nominated for the DHS Privacy Office Sunshine Award for Exceptional Service. These outcomes reflect a high-performing partnership that delivered measurable results and earned agency-wide recognition. Key achievements include:
- Reduced a 400-case FOIA backlog within just 5 months of project start
- Nominated for the DHS Privacy Office Sunshine Award for Exceptional Service (2022)
- Ranked in the 2nd highest percentile of FOIA cases processed nationwide (January 2022)
- Managed full FOIA lifecycle—intake, appeals, litigation, processing, redaction, and response
- Developed training and mentorship programs to build internal capacity and sustain performance
- Introduced new technologies and risk-mitigation strategies to support long-term change management
