DOJ — foreign-agent (FARA) records on Shabtai and Friends of the IDF: nothing released, told to ask DOJ's National Security Division (FOIA-2026-04169)
What we asked for: Records held by DOJ's FARA Unit — the office that runs the Foreign Agents Registration Act, which requires people working for foreign governments or parties to register — about two groups: (a) Shabtai, an organization associated with Yale University, and (b) Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF). We asked for any registration statements, follow-up filings, or correspondence, including any letter asking either group whether it should register, or any decision about that. If none existed, we asked DOJ to say so in writing.
What we got: No records and no search. This office said it only handles records for itself and DOJ's top leadership offices, that each DOJ part handles its own FOIA requests, and that we should send the request to the National Security Division "as the federal entity most likely to maintain the records you are seeking."
Next step: the request would have to be filed again with the National Security Division. The letter gives 90 days to appeal.
View DOJ's letter Download PDF, 2 pages