The Freedom of Information Act (more often referred to as FOIA) established a presumption that records of the Executive Branch of the United States government are accessible to the public.  This was not always the policy regarding federal information disclosure.  Before the FOIA in 1966, the burden was on the individual to establish a right to examine these government records.

With the passage of the FOIA, the burden of proof shifted from the individual to the government.  Those seeking information are no longer required to show a need for information.  Instead, the "need to know" standard has now been replaced by a "right to know" standard.  The government now has to justify its need for secrecy.

The FOIA sets standards for determining which records must be made available for public inspection and which records can be withheld from disclosure.  The law also provides administrative and judicial remedies for those denied access to records.  Above all, the statute requires federal agencies to provide the fullest possible disclosure of information to the public.

The United States Mint makes available a FOIA Handbook.  This document explains how the Mint complies with FOIA.