According to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) website, the act provides the "public the right to request access to records from any federal agency... Federal agencies are required to disclose any information requested under the FOIA unless it falls under one of nine exemptions which protect interests such as personal privacy, national security, and law enforcement."
Sometimes you might need some information from a federal agency that is not available in print or online. You can try calling an agency and asking for some information, but if you run into resistance you can file a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.
