BACKLOGGED REQUESTS 5. If your agency had a backlog of requests at the close of Fiscal Year 2015, did that backlog decrease as compared with the backlog reported at the end of Fiscal Year 2014? Yes. The overall number of backlogged requests decreased by 12.6% in Fiscal Year 2015. Number of Backlogged Number of Backlogged Requests Requests as of End of the Fiscal Year as of End of the Fiscal from Year from Previous Annual Report Current Annual Report USDA 1,314 1,148 OVERALL 6. If not, explain why and describe the causes that contributed to your agency not being able reduce its backlog. When doing so, please also indicate if any of the following were contributing factors: An increase in the number of incoming requests. A loss of staff. An increase in the complexity of the requests received. If possible, please provide examples or briefly describe the types of complex requests contributing to your backlog increase. Any other reasons please briefly describe or provide examples when possible. – Not applicable. The Department was able to reduce its overall request backlog. 7. If you had a request backlog please report the percentage of requests that make up the backlog out of the total number of requests by your agency in Fiscal Year 2014. received Yes. The Department had a request backlog. The percentage of requests that makeup the backlog out of requests received in Fiscal Year 2014 is 5.78%. BACKLOGGED APPEALS 8. If your agency had a backlog of appeals at the close of Fiscal Year 2015, did that backlog decrease as compared with the backlog reported at the end of Fiscal Year 2014? No. The overall number of backlogged appeals increased by 46.26 % in Fiscal Year 2015. Number of Backlogged Number of Backlogged Appeals as Appeals as of End of the of End of the Fiscal Year from Fiscal Year from Previous Current Annual Report Annual Report USDA 268 392
BACKLOGGED REQUESTS 5. If your agency had a backlog of requests at the close of Fiscal Year 2015, did that backlog decrease as compared with the backlog reported at the end of Fiscal Year 2014? Yes. The overall number of backlogged requests decreased by 12.6% in Fiscal Year 2015. Number of Backlogged Requests as of End of the Fiscal Year from Previous Annual Report Number of Backlogged Requests as of End of the Fiscal Year from Current Annual Report USDA OVERALL 1,314 1,148 6. If not, explain why and describe the causes that contributed to your agency not being able reduce its backlog. When doing so, please also indicate if any of the following were contributing factors: An increase in the number of incoming requests. A loss of staff. An increase in the complexity of the requests received. If possible, please provide examples or briefly describe the types of complex requests contributing to your backlog increase. Any other reasons – please briefly describe or provide examples when possible. Not applicable. The Department was able to reduce its overall request backlog. 7. If you had a request backlog please report the percentage of requests that make up the backlog out of the total number of requests received by your agency in Fiscal Year 2014. Yes. The Department had a request backlog. The percentage of requests that makeup the backlog out of requests received in Fiscal Year 2014 is 5.78%. BACKLOGGED APPEALS 8. If your agency had a backlog of appeals at the close of Fiscal Year 2015, did that backlog decrease as compared with the backlog reported at the end of Fiscal Year 2014? No. The overall number of backlogged appeals increased by 46.26 % in Fiscal Year 2015. Number of Backlogged Appeals as of End of the Fiscal Year from Previous Annual Report Number of Backlogged Appeals as of End of the Fiscal Year from Current Annual Report USDA 268 392
FINAL%20USDA%202016%20CHIEF%20FOIA%20OFFICER%20REPORT.docx