A federal judge says the Air Force has not been responsive in its handling of Freedom of Information Act requests. US District Judge Rosemary Collyer issued a memorandum opinion on April 19, finding for the National Security Archive, a Washington-based non-profit library of unclassified government information, which filed suit last year, claiming a “pattern” of FOIA violation that extends over numerous requests—some filed 18 years ago. Collyer notes that the Air Force admits failing to “complete processing” in a “timely manner” for 33 of the NSA’s 82 requests. She also acknowledges that the service argues “it is exercising due diligence now.” The judge says, though, that there is “reason for concern” because there is no one single person who oversees FOIA compliance and the responsibility to answer requests “is spread as wide as the Air Force is spread.” She would not order the Air Force to turn over classified documents without proper review, but she sided with the archive in its request to set a timetable.
Gene Smith, Former POW and AFA Chair, Dies at 91
Jan. 19, 2026
Lt. Col. Richard “Gene” Smith, who overcame five and a half years as a prisoner of war in the notorious Hanoi Hilton from 1967 until 1973, died Jan. 16. He was one day short of his 91st birthday.
