How Balancing Automation and Talent Reshapes the Flow of FOIA and Public Records Requests

How Balancing Automation and Talent Reshapes the Flow of FOIA and Public Records Requests A Conversation with Michael Sarich, former Director of FOIA at the Department of Veterans Affairs. by David Pemberton Reading Time — 7 minutes June 30, 2026 Facebook LinkedIn Public records and FOIA requests are undergoing a profound transformation in response to the combination of a downsized workforce and the seemingly unstoppable rise in information being requested. To answer this challenge, the agencies responsible are exploring emerging technologies and how best to integrate them into their workflows