Reclamation FOIA Officer Erin Chidester
Erin Chidester has been selected to receive the prestigious 2025 Freedom of Information Act Merit Award. This recognition highlights her exceptional contributions to the Department of the Interior’s FOIA program and underscores her commitment to transparency and efficiency within Reclamation’s operations.
Since joining Reclamation as the FOIA officer in January 2024, Chidester has made remarkable strides in enhancing the FOIA processes. Under her leadership, Reclamation has successfully reduced its FOIA request backlog by an impressive 84%. This significant achievement is a testament to Chidester's professionalism, diligence, and subject matter expertise.
“Erin is a consummate professional and an outstanding leader in our FOIA community,” said Interior’s Deputy Chief FOIA Officer Rachel Spector. “We are extremely fortunate to have her.”
One of Chidester's key initiatives was the centralization of Reclamation’s FOIA operations within the Office of Communication. By eliminating regional silos, she has effectively streamlined the FOIA request processing workload, allowing for a more cohesive and efficient approach. Additionally, Chidester developed and implemented a comprehensive suite of standard operating procedures that have not only increased the efficiency of request processing but also improved the overall quality of responses.
"Erin's achievements exemplify Reclamation's 'Can Do' spirit and reflect Team FOIA's commitment to transparency with the American public,’ said Reclamation’s Director of Communications Rob Manning. “Her inspiring leadership enhances the effectiveness of our mission and reinforces Reclamation’s obligation to the American West."
Chidester's collaborative spirit is further exemplified by her successful negotiation of a Service Level Agreement with Reclamation’s five regional directors. This agreement ensures a common understanding of the process for responding to FOIA search requests and obtaining necessary subject matter expert reviews, fostering a unified approach across Reclamation.
“I truly appreciate this recognition, though I can't take credit for all of it,” Chidester said. “It was a collective effort, and I am fortunate to work with an amazing team whose dedication and hard work are at the heart of our success. I'm also fortunate to collaborate with such a talented and dedicated team across the Department of the Interior, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the improvement of FOIA at Reclamation and beyond.”
Chidester’s significant accomplishments reflect not only her outstanding management and leadership skills but also her unwavering commitment to FOIA excellence. Her work is shaping the future of transparency and accountability within Reclamation and the Department of the Interior.
FOIA is a cornerstone of government transparency, granting the public the right to access federal records and ensuring accountability in government operations. FOIA programs within federal agencies play a critical role in upholding this transparency by managing requests, processing disclosures, and balancing the need for openness with legal protections for sensitive information.
One key benefit of FOIA programs is that they enhance public trust by allowing individuals, journalists, and organizations to scrutinize government actions. By providing access to documents, these programs promote informed citizen participation in democracy and help uncover inefficiencies, corruption, or other concerns that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Additionally, FOIA programs support academic and investigative research, contributing to policy analysis and historical documentation. They also drive government efficiency by encouraging agencies to maintain better records and proactively disclose information, reducing the burden of individual requests.
The effectiveness of FOIA programs depends on adequate funding, technological resources and highly qualified staff – as demonstrated by Chidester and the Reclamation team. Their professional excellence ensures timely and accurate processing of requests, effectively supporting the principle and purpose of FOIA.
Ultimately, FOIA programs are essential for a transparent, accountable government. By ensuring public access to information, they uphold democratic values and reinforce the principle that government exists to serve the people.
