The public outcry and lawsuits over alleged secrecy at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency shine a spotlight on what’s long been a problem: inadequate public access to government records.

Federal agencies are required by law to produce public records that are appropriately requested. The Freedom of Information Act requires that all government records be open to the public with exceptions for those affecting national security or personal privacy. It has become an essential tool of government accountability and has provided a crucial window into the inner workings of our democracy.