Federal agency FOIA guide · Department of Defense

National Security Agency (NSA)

For NSA records. National-security exemptions are common. The NSA reading room contains many historical releases.

Build a National Security Agency FOIA requestAdd to a request bundleAppeal a denial
Before you file: Search the agency’s public reading room and other public databases first. FOIAFiler does not submit requests for you, and agency contact details can change. Verify current instructions on the official agency page before sending.

Common request topics

nsasignals intelligencesurveillanceclassified

Where to submit

Mail / email details in FOIAFiler

Email: nsafoia@nsa.gov

Mail:
NSA/CSS FOIA/PA Office (P132)
National Security Agency
9800 Savage Road STE 6932
Ft. George G. Meade, MD 20755-6932

Verify before mailing

Related request recipes

Intelligence / classified historical records

For a specifically identified classified document, Mandatory Declassification Review can sometimes be an alternative. FOIA and MDR should not be pursued concurrently for the same information.

Use this recipe

How to make the request easier to process

  • Describe the records, not just the question you want answered.
  • Use a specific date range when possible.
  • Name the office, event, case number, contract number, facility, or other locator if known.
  • List useful record types such as emails, reports, memoranda, photographs, logs, contracts, or policy documents.
  • For records about yourself, follow the agency’s identity-verification and Privacy Act instructions.
  • Ask for reasonably segregable non-exempt portions if responsive records contain exempt material.

Build it

One agency or several?

If this agency is clearly the custodian, build one request. If the records may be split among several components, Request Bundles can generate a separate letter for each selected agency while keeping the core description consistent.

Build one requestBuild a multi-agency bundle