Since its passage over 50 years ago, the federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) has become a critical tool for citizens, journalists, lawyers, and advocacy organizations. It also has inspired state‐​level legislation that mirrors the original federal FOIA in promoting government transparency. FOIA has been used to expose waste, fraud, abuse, and even criminal conduct on the part of officials at the federal and state levels. It also has been used to help the public better understand the decision making process inside government, often over the objections of government officials. Join us for an event that will examine the history, uses, and challenges of employing FOIA at the federal and state levels with some of the leading experts in the field.