Americans for Prosperity Foundation (AFPF) is a nonprofit organization committed to promoting policies that work towards a free society where individuals can thrive in their pursuits. The organization’s belief in government transparency spurred them to investigate potential corruption within government agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In this blog post, we will discuss how the AFPF used the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to uncover whether the Department of Homeland Security’s Disinformation Governance Board was a threat to First Amendment rights, and how AFPF used litigation to obtain more information on the matter.
The DHS Disinformation Governance Board was established in 2018 to tackle the issue of misinformation and propaganda in national security. However, the board came under fire when media outlets reported that it was involved in monitoring journalists and keeping tabs on social media accounts. Many critics believed that this was a violation of the First Amendment of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of the press and speech.
The response from the citizenry was swift and unforgiving, with many calling for an investigation into the operations of DHS. Americans for Prosperity Foundation also took notice of these developments and saw the need to investigate further.
Americans for Prosperity Foundation used the Freedom of Information Act to pry open DHS’s operations and uncover corruption. Their FOIA requests focused on documents concerning the Disinformation Governance Board’s activities and members. After combing through the documents that they received from DHS, they discovered that DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas was using his personal email account to conduct DHS business. This revelation raised questions about the security of government information and prompted bipartisan action.
Many members of Congress joined AFPF in calling for Secretary Mayorkas and the Disinformation Governance Board to be held accountable. Through AFPF’s meticulous investigation, combined with the widespread media coverage, pressure was placed upon the government agency to address these issues.
Americans for Prosperity Foundation’s efforts to gather further information on DHS led them to file a lawsuit. This lawsuit aimed to uncover more information on DHS’s operations and the Disinformation Governance Board’s members. AFPF’s determined legal action ultimately helped secure more transparency from the agency, serving as a reminder to those in power that their actions are ultimately subject to public scrutiny.
Americans for Prosperity Foundation’s work in uncovering DHS’s Disinformation Governance Board and the Secretary Mayorkas’ use of personal email for official government business highlights the importance of holding government agencies accountable. AFPF’s commitment to using FOIA requests and litigation as means to secure more transparency shows how powerful citizens can be when they work together to expose corruption. By continuing to push for transparent governance, we can build a society where everyone can succeed and flourish.
Check out the full episode here:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/american-potential/id1661043438?i=1000607183206
