Secrecy on the Rise: How Government Transparency is Fading in the U. S.

In the U. S. , seeing what the government does has become harder. This is especially true since the second Trump term began. Florida, once a model for openness, now makes it tough for people to get public records. High fees and low success rates show how the state is falling behind. Florida charges big fees for copies of public records. On average, these fees are $1, 623. Only Oregon charges more often. These fees are supposed to cover costs, but they often feel random and push people away. Even if you pay, getting the records you want is not guaranteed. In 2019, Florida only gave out records 39% of the time. By 2026, this dropped to 34%. The state’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is not helping. While pushing cities to be more open, it hides its own records. Some lawmakers want to fix this by strengthening public records laws. But these changes might not be enough. Other states, like Ohio and Pennsylvania, have stronger laws with better enforcement.The problem starts at the top. The federal government under Trump is less open than before. While Trump talks a lot, getting documents about what the government does is harder. The administration has cut back on FOIA requests, removed websites, and fired staff who handle these requests. Backlogs for FOIA requests have grown. In 2026, unresolved requests increased by 67%. The time to process simple requests nearly doubled. The Open Government Federal Advisory Committee, created to improve FOIA, was also cut. Florida and the U. S. are moving toward more secrecy. This goes against the spirit of the Freedom of Information Act. Lyndon B. Johnson once said this act was for an open society where people’s right to know is protected. Today, that right is under threat.