The FOIA requires the federal government to disclose all requested information unless what occurs?

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) mandates that the federal government must disclose records to the public upon request unless certain exemptions apply. These exemptions, outlined in the FOIA, allow the government to withhold information for specific reasons, such as national security, personal privacy, law enforcement, and other sensitive matters. Therefore, when a specific exemption applies, it justifies withholding information that would otherwise be disclosed.

The other options do not align with the requirements set forth by FOIA. For instance, the status of the requester—whether a corporation or an individual—does not affect the ability to access information under FOIA. Similarly, while the sensitivity of information could be a reason for withholding under exemptions, a blanket statement about sensitivity without context does not capture the framework of FOIA. Lastly, the timing of requests during a crisis does not inherently impact the applicability of disclosures unless it directly relates to one of the established exemptions.