Following an incident involving President Donald Trump inadvertently sharing a direct message on Truth Social, multiple Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests were submitted to cabinet officials, including those at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The requests aimed to obtain direct messages sent or received by these officials, particularly focusing on Secretary Kristi Noem, who is active on the platform. Despite expectations of finding relevant records, DHS reported no records were available, raising questions about the agency's records management practices and the adequacy of their search efforts.

The absence of records from Secretary Noem, who has a substantial following and engagement on Truth Social, prompts inquiries into whether she has engaged in direct messaging on the platform. This situation also raises concerns about the functionality of Truth Social in preserving communications, which is crucial for compliance with federal records management rules. The lack of proper archiving could hinder transparency and accountability in government communications. An appeal has been filed to further investigate these issues.

In a separate development, America First Legal (AFL), a conservative legal organization linked to former President Trump, has initiated a legal challenge against a 2022 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that allows expedited processing of FOIA requests for those citing an 'environmental justice-related need.' AFL argues that this provision undermines the FOIA's requirement for content-neutral handling of requests and creates a preferential system for certain requesters.

The EPA defines environmental justice as ensuring fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all individuals in environmental decision-making, aiming to prevent disproportionate impacts on marginalized communities. AFL's challenge seeks detailed information on the application of this environmental justice standard, including the number of expedited requests and the identities of beneficiaries. Critics of the EPA's approach have labeled it politically motivated, while the agency plans to review the 2022 rule in its upcoming regulatory agenda. AFL's filings also call for the repeal of the environmental justice language in FOIA rules, arguing it lacks a current executive order mandate and could lead to exploitation by outside groups.