All communications from the Presidential Transition Team and Trump White House regarding public communication

Good evening, Mr. Howard.

Please give me a call regarding the request you submitted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (below). In order to conduct an effective search for responsive records, USDA needs clarification and refinement of the request.

If you able to identify, by either name or title, which staff person(s)' emails you are interested in receiving, that information would be very helpful.

Thank you for your assistance.
Best,
Christine Jordan, Esq.
Program Manager-FOIA
USDA/OCIO Contractor
Department FOIA Office
Patriot Plaza III, 355 E Street, SW
Washington DC 20024
Telephone: (202) 772-9091

Good morning, Mr. Howard.

This e-mail acknowledges receipt of your January 24, 2017, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Department FOIA Office (DFO). This office received your request on January 25th.

The DFO is under the purview of the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) and serves as the focal point for USDA's FOIA program. The DFO provides coordination and ensures agency-wide compliance with the FOIA. The DFO processes requests and appeals on behalf of the Office of the Secretary and Departmental Management's ("DM") components. For a complete listing of DM's components, please visit http://www.dm.usda.gov/agencies.htm.

The FOIA, 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(6)(A)(i), requires USDA to make a determination in response to a FOIA request within 20 business days from its date of receipt. In unusual circumstances, the Federal agency time limit may be extended by 10 business days as stated in 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(6)(B). If your request seeks numerous documents that will necessitate a wide-ranging search, including searches with components and possible consultations with components that have a substantial interest in the determination of this request, USDA will invoke a 10 business day extension for determination of your request. You have the option to narrow the scope of your request to limit the number of potentially responsive documents.

The DFO has attempted to contact you twice, via email, at the MuckRock email address identified in your request as your preferred email address for correspondence. The purpose for the outreach is to clarify your request. Currently, your FOIA request is not perfected; any search for records would require this office to make assumptions regarding which USDA components should conduct searches, as well as the appropriate time period for responsive records. Your request currently is on hold. Please contact this office, using the contact information below, so that processing can begin.

Following clarification of your request, a search will be conducted for responsive records. If any records that are responsive to your request are located, they will be reviewed for determination of releasability. Please be assured that a FOIA Analyst in this office will respond to your request as expeditiously as possible. We appreciate your patience as we proceed with your request.

Provisions of the FOIA allow USDA to recover part of the cost of complying with your request. For purposes of fee assessment, you were categorized as an "all other" requester, pursuant to 7 CFR Appendix A to Subpart A of Part 1 Section (5)(d). For your review and information, a copy of the USDA FOIA Fee Schedule is enclosed. In accordance with 7 CFR Appendix A to Subpart A of Part 1 Section 6(a)(4), your fees shall be waived where the amount of the fee is $25.00 or less. You will be contacted before any fees over $25.00 are accrued.

Your request has been assigned FOIA Case No. 2017-OCIO-01769-F. Please refer to this case number in any future correspondence. If you have any questions regarding this letter, please contact me at (202) 772-9091 or electronically at Christine.Jordan@ocio.usda.gov<mailto:Christine.Jordan@ocio.usda.gov> or USDAFOIA@ocio.usda.gov<mailto:USDAFOIA@ocio.usda.gov>. For additional information regarding USDA FOIA regulations and process, please refer to the information available on-line at www.dm.usda.gov/foia<http://www.dm.usda.gov/foia>.

The DFO Team appreciates the opportunity to assist you in this matter.

Best,
Christine Jordan, Esq.
Program Manager-FOIA
USDA/OCIO Contractor
Department FOIA Office
Patriot Plaza III, 355 E Street, SW
Washington DC 20024
Telephone: (202) 772-9091

This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately.

Good morning, Mr. Howard.

Your FOIA request, 2017-OCIO-01769-F, currently is in review. I will inform the Department FOIA Officer that you’ve requested a status update.

Thanks for touching base. I hope to provide a response to you very soon.
Best,
Christine Jordan
202-772-9091

Good afternoon, Mr. Howard.

Please find attached a Final Response Letter and the corresponding responsive record associated with a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request you submitted recently to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. A copy of your incoming request is also attached for your reference.

Best,
Christine Jordan, Esq.
Program Manager-FOIA
USDA/OCIO Contractor
Department FOIA Office
Patriot Plaza III, 355 E Street, SW
Washington DC 20024
Telephone: (202) 772-9091

This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately.