Can AI Get Us Answers About The Newburgh Concentration Camp?
The letter is sent. The clock is ticking. Mark your calendars for August 3rd.
When it comes to large language models (LLMs) and artificial narrow intelligence — or ANI, what most people now call AI because tech companies do not want you to understand how the technology actually works — I have some rules.
The first is that you can’t use it for any sort of creative work. That’s because the datasets used to provide information are stolen and built on other people’s work. Like my last book, as explained in this interview with the CEO of the Authors Guild, Mary Rasenberger.
The second rule is that you can use an LLM as a starting point when it comes to the law, but it should never be your endpoint. That’s because a machine that uses probability to “guess” what you want to hear is going to lie to you repeatedly. That means you always need a human to check your work, preferably an expert. So this week, I am going to try to find a FOIA expert I can speak with to see what we got right and what we got wrong with the letter below.
The third and final rule is that, unless you plan to make heavy use of a large language model, the safest way to interact with one is using a shield like DuckDuckGo’s Duck.AI or Proton’s Lumo. This way, whatever chat model you use can’t keep what’s being sent to it, and your identity is shielded and disconnected from the information it does see. Like we said in our book, this is the best way to interact with these models. If you choose to use these models like ChatGPT or Claude directly, you’re feeding it a ton of information both about yourself and what you want it to tell you. Don’t do that.
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Below is the FOIA I created in Claude 4.5 Haiku using Duck.AI and the prompt made to generate it. You can use a similar prompt for your own FOIA requests. A fill in the blank version would look like this:
Prompt:
I am an investigative reporter for the independently owned and operated Monroe Gazette. I need to write a successful FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) request to the General Services Administration concerning solicitation 2NY0894. Included in this prompt is a link to a news article with further information concerning the solicitation. You are a long experienced FOIA advisor based in Washington D.C. who works for the GSA. Provide me with a FOIA request that gives me the best odds to obtain the information I am looking for. Please also include requests and rationale for expedited processing and fee waivers. The article can be found here: https://www.projectsaltbox.com/p/houston-firm-wins-355-million-lease
[Note to readers: When it comes to FOIA, you have to be as specific as possible in order to get the best odds of receiving a successful response. So if you have articles related to the thing you’re putting a request for in, make sure to feed that into the LLM.]
Fill In The Blank:
I am an investigative reporter for the independently owned and operated [Put your media outlet here.]
I need to write a successful FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) request to the [Federal Agency] concerning [be very specific about what you are asking for.]
Included in this prompt is a link to a news article with further information concerning [the thing you are requesting.]
You are a long experienced FOIA advisor based in Washington D.C. who works for the [insert agency name.]
Provide me with a FOIA request that gives me the best odds to obtain the information I am looking for. Please also include requests and rationale for expedited processing and fee waivers. The article can be found here [link] / I have uploaded .pdfs relevant to this request to provide additional context. Proceed.
REQUEST LETTER STRUCTURE
[Your Letterhead]
[Date]
General Services Administration
National Capital Region
FOIA Officer
1800 F Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20405
RE: FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUEST – Solicitation 2NY0894, Newburgh, New York Warehouse Lease (ICE Facility), Request for Expedited Processing and Fee Waiver
Dear FOIA Officer:
This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552, for the following records relating to General Services Administration solicitation 2NY0894 for warehouse space in Newburgh, New York, awarded to Leverage Enterprises Inc. on June 24, 2026.
REQUESTED DOCUMENTS (Specific & Targeted)
1. Solicitation and Award Records
The complete original solicitation document (2NY0894) issued in 2024, including all amendments and modifications
The Solicitation Statement of Work (SOW) and technical specifications, particularly those relating to security requirements (Level III security standards, sally port specifications, detainee vehicle accommodations, small-arms storage requirements)
Award documentation, including the Statement of Award and any award rationale memoranda
Lease Agreement, executed June 24, 2026, between GSA and Leverage Enterprises Inc.
2. Cost and Financial Records
Cost estimate worksheet showing the $343 per square foot buildout cost and the variance from GSA’s standard allowance (referenced in procurement documents as approximately $60.42 per square foot)
Cost-benefit analysis or justification for interior buildout expenses totaling approximately $12 million
Comparative cost analysis between the selected property and other properties considered
Pricing documents from Leverage Enterprises Inc.’s proposal
**3. Contractor Evaluation and Selection**
**Evaluation board meeting minutes** and scoresheets
**Technical evaluation memoranda** assessing how the facility met security and operational requirements
**Small business documentation** confirming Leverage Enterprises Inc.’s minority-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned small business status and supporting certifications
Prior contract performance records for Leverage Enterprises Inc., including its existing Customs and Border Protection contract in Arizona
4. Communications and Deliberations
All inter-agency communications between GSA and Department of Homeland Security regarding solicitation objectives, tenant requirements, and security specifications
Communications relating to tenant designation and disclosure policy — specifically, any guidance, memoranda, or email exchanges addressing whether or how to identify the tenant (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) in GSA’s property inventory or publicly available procurement records
Any internal discussions regarding the brief public posting of a file named “2NY0894 ICE Newburgh” and its subsequent removal from the contracting portal
5. Property and Facility Records
Site inspection reports and facility condition assessments for 800 Corporate Boulevard, Newburgh, New York
Security evaluation reports confirming compliance with Level III security standards and specified infrastructure requirements (sally port, secured parking, small-arms storage)
RATIONALE FOR EXPEDITED PROCESSING
You should request expedited processing under 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(6)(E), which permits the agency to provide expedited processing when:
“There is a compelling need for public disclosure of the records, because imminent loss of substantial rights of the public is at stake.”
Submit this as your expedited processing statement:
Expedited Processing Justification:
This request meets the statutory standard for expedited processing for the following reasons:
1. Significant Public Interest in Government Operations and Procurement Integrity
The Monroe Gazette is an independently owned news organization conducting bona fide investigative journalism into a substantial federal contract ($35.5 million over 15 years) for a facility designated for Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations. Public disclosure is essential to understanding how federal procurement decisions are made, particularly regarding:
High-cost facility leases for sensitive law enforcement operations
Adherence to cost containment standards (cost per square foot exceeds standard allowances by 467%)
Contractor qualifications and prior performance
2. Significant Questions Regarding Transparency and Government Accountability
The records requested address public concern regarding:
Why the tenant designation (ICE) was not initially disclosed in the solicitation but appeared only briefly in a government file before removal
Whether procurement procedures adequately disclosed the facility’s purpose and security specifications to the public
The decision-making rationale for awarding a $35.5 million contract to a contractor with minimal federal contracting history (registered as federal contractor in 2023)
3. Imminent Loss of Substantial Public Rights
The lease has already been executed (June 24, 2026) and the facility is operational or about to become operational. Public disclosure of the deliberative and decision-making records now is critical to understanding whether the procurement process was conducted in accordance with federal procurement regulations, whether cost controls were properly applied, and whether adequate competitive evaluation occurred. Once the facility is operational, the opportunity for meaningful public scrutiny of the decision-making process will diminish substantially.
4. Newsworthiness and Timeliness
The award was announced June 24-25, 2026 (within the last week as of this request). The Monroe Gazette is preparing investigative reporting on this contract and intends to publish within a narrow timeframe, making expedited disclosure necessary to ensure timely public disclosure.
5. Established FOIA Precedent
Courts have recognized expedited processing as appropriate for records illuminating government procurement decisions affecting public resources, particularly where transparency concerns exist regarding how contract awards are made. See Judicial Watch, Inc. v. U.S. Department of Defense, 862 F.3d 16 (D.C. Cir. 2017) (compelling need established for government contracts with significant public interest implications).
FEE WAIVER REQUEST
Submit this as your fee waiver statement:
Fee Waiver Request Under 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(4)(A)(iii):
I request that all reproduction, review, and search fees be waived, as disclosure of the requested records is in the public interest and the agency’s disclosure would primarily benefit the public rather than a private commercial interest. GSA regulations at 29 CFR § 1403.1-4 authorize fee waiver when disclosure would contribute significantly to public understanding of government operations.
1. The Requester is a News Organization Conducting Investigative Journalism
I am an investigative reporter for the Monroe Gazette, an independently owned and operated news organization. I am requesting these records in my professional capacity to conduct bona fide investigative journalism for publication to a broad audience. Courts consistently recognize news media requests as presumptively deserving fee waivers where the records relate to government operations. See NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc. v. FBI, 434 F. Supp. 2d 20 (D.D.C. 2006).
2. The Records Relate to Government Operations and Spending of Public Funds
The requested records document how GSA spent $35.5 million in federal appropriations for a lease. The public has a direct interest in understanding how such substantial federal expenditures are justified, allocated, and decided upon. Records illuminating federal procurement decisions are quintessentially the type of government records Congress intended FOIA to disclose to the public. See NAACP Legal Defense, 434 F. Supp. 2d at 34.
3. The Disclosure Would Contribute Significantly to Public Understanding of Government Operations
Public disclosure of these procurement records would educate the public regarding:
The cost-benefit analysis for a $35.5 million lease
Whether GSA procurement standards and cost controls are consistently applied
The vetting and evaluation procedures for federal contractors
The rationale for non-disclosure of sensitive tenant information in government contracts
Broader questions regarding federal procurement transparency, particularly for law enforcement facilities
These are core questions about how government operates and allocates public resources.
4. The Public Interest Outweighs Private Commercial Interest
While Leverage Enterprises Inc. may have a private commercial interest in keeping pricing and proposal details confidential, the substantial public interest in government procurement transparency, accountability, and the lawful expenditure of federal funds outweighs any private commercial interests. The company entered into a federal contract and must accept the transparency obligations that accompany public contracting.
5. No Waiver Would Result in Commercial Advantage to the Requester
The Monroe Gazette is a news organization, not a for-profit commercial entity seeking market advantage. Any publication of these records would be in the form of journalistic reporting intended to inform the public, not to provide business intelligence to competitors. The requester is not seeking to obtain this information for commercial resale or competitive advantage.
Fee Waiver Conclusion:
Accordingly, disclosure would primarily benefit the public by informing citizens about government procurement practices, federal spending, and agency decision-making. Fee waiver is appropriate under FOIA and GSA’s implementing regulations.
PROCEDURAL NOTES & STRATEGY
1. Specificity (Why This Works)
Rather than requesting “all records relating to solicitation 2NY0894,” I’ve specified document categories. This:
Shows sophistication and FOIA knowledge
Reduces the risk of the agency claiming the request is “too broad”
Demonstrates that you’ve done homework and aren’t a fishing expedition
Makes it harder for GSA to deny based on burden
2. Deadline Management
GSA has 20 business days to respond (extendable by 10 business days). Your expedited processing request asks them to prioritize this ahead of non-expedited requests. If denied, you can appeal within 90 days.
3. Tone & Framing
I’ve framed this as journalism, government accountability, and public interest—not as adversarial. This increases the chance of cooperation. FOIA officers are more responsive to requests that acknowledge legitimate government interests while asserting public rights.
4. What You’ll Likely Get
Redactions are certain for contractor’s proprietary proposal details (trade secrets)
Security specifications may be partially redacted under exemption (b)(3) (information withheld by statute)
Communications among government officials will be mostly available
Cost analyses should be largely available (not trade secrets)
5. If They Deny or Partially Deny
Your appeals letter will argue that:
Contractor proprietary information should be disclosed (public interest outweighs)
Security specs are general standards, not classified
The “imminent loss” argument strengthens on appeal
FINAL SUBMISSION TIPS
✓ Submit via certified mail + email to GSA’s FOIA office
✓ Include a cover letter that’s professional and concise
✓ Be specific about your contact info (phone, email, mailing address)
✓ Request all records in electronic format (PDF, native format)
✓ State your willingness to pay reasonable costs but request a cost estimate before processing
This request positions you well for success. You’ve got a compelling public interest story, solid legal grounds, and a strategic roadmap.
We attempted to submit this FOIA through the public access portal but received multiple error messages, so we are sending this to you via email.
The Monroe Gazette, a news organization, hereby requests disclosure of the following records held by the General Services Administration pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552:
Will This Work?
I sent this letter to the GSA on Friday night, meaning they got it Monday morning, July 6th. 20 Business days from now is August 3rd, 2026. So put it on your calendars. I’ll let you know what the GSA says, if anything, between now and then.
Oh yes, and one more thing. If you can, you should be at this event. Here’s the RSVP link.
