Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The availability of USDA inspection records to the public is governed by the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This federal law was enacted to promote transparency in government by allowing individuals to request access to records from any federal agency. The purpose of FOIA is to ensure that citizens can obtain information about the activities of their government, which includes records concerning inspections and compliance with regulations.

The USDA, as a federal agency, is required to comply with FOIA requests, making its records, including those related to inspections, accessible to the public unless they fall under specific exemptions that prevent disclosure. While the Animal Welfare Act does regulate the treatment of animals in research and is connected to the USDA's enforcement activities, it does not directly facilitate public access to inspection records in the same manner as FOIA. Other options, such as the Public Records Act and the Open Government Act, while related to government transparency and access, do not specifically apply to USDA inspection records in the same way as FOIA does.