Nate Jones

Washington, D.C.

FOIA Director

Education: Lewis and Clark College, BA in history ; George Washington University, MA in history; University of the District of Columbia, JD

Nate Jones is the FOIA director for The Washington Post, where he works with reporters to target documents to request, appeal and sue for. He works with reporters to obtain local, state and federal records and to think strategically about public records in all formats. He gives FOIA training sessions and advises reporters on how to write, refine and track requests, navigate delays and overredactions, and overcome other bureaucratic resistance. He is also author of the "Revealing Records" column which describes The Post's battles for public records. He has served two terms on the Federal FOIA A
Latest from Nate Jones

A school cop was accused of sexual misconduct with kids. He kept his job for years.

In South Carolina, Deputy Jamel Bradley remained a school resource officer despite complaints that he was preying on girls at Spring Valley High.

September 2, 2024

These 1,941 historic Ted Cruz emails show how Washington works

Emails offer an unvarnished view of the senator’s life at the Justice Department as his political star rose amid networking, lunches and after-work gatherings.

June 18, 2024

Abused by the badge

Hundreds of police officers in the United States have sexually abused children, a Post investigation found. In many cases, the officers have avoided prison time.

June 12, 2024

How to FOIA: A visual guide for obtaining public records

Ever wondered how reporters get all those government documents? Here’s a step-by-step guide to how we do it.

March 2, 2024

Mattis secretly advised Arab monarch on Yemen war, records show

Retired General Jim Mattis worked for the UAE crown prince as a military adviser, but concealed that history from the public when he returned to the Pentagon

February 6, 2024

Two lawyers barred from D.C. jail over drug-tainted paperwork, officials say

D.C. jail has banned two defense attorneys after they were found to be carrying paperwork containing trace amounts of illegal drugs.

January 9, 2024
The D.C. jail facility.

When government officials withhold records, the public pays the price

D.C. police declined to release the disciplinary file of retired officer Brett Parson, and The Post sued. FOIA Director Nate Jones explains what we found out.

December 14, 2023

I find documents officials want to keep hidden. Here’s how.

There are countless secrets hidden in government documents. As The Post's FOIA director, I help reporters figure out how to find them. Here's how I do it.

October 6, 2023

    Paghahanap kay Maura

    Nagtungo si Maura mula Pilipinas sa 1904 World’s Fair para maitampok. Iilan lamang ang makakaalam kung anong nangyari sa kanila hanggang makalipas ang 100 taon.

    August 16, 2023

      Searching for Maura

      Maura came to St. Louis from the Philippines to be put on display at the 1904 World’s Fair. Few people would know what happened to her for more than a century.

      August 16, 2023