A new lawsuit from conservative legal group Cause of Action alleges that 12 federal agencies have failed for up to 14 months to disclose documents requested under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The FOIA requests appear to be delayed at the Obama administration's discretion, per a 2009 White House memo which directs that "executive agencies should consult with the White House Counsel's office on all document requests that may involve documents with White House equities." The memo specifies that FOIA requests are included in this category.

President Obama famously promised during his 2008 campaign to run the most transparent administration in history. Since then, he has been repeatedly condemned by conservative, liberal, and libertarian critics alike for a presidency marked by secrecy.