How to Use the FOIA.gov (Freedom of Information) MCP in Windsurf

Q: How do I find specific office IDs using FOIA.gov (Freedom of Information) in Windsurf?

Use Cascade to call listagencycomponents with your desired search filters. The tool returns unique UUIDs for each sub-agency, which you can immediately use for deeper queries.

Q: Can Windsurf handle the XML data returned by the FOIA.gov (Freedom of Information) server?

Yes, Cascade can parse the raw XML returned by getannualreportxml automatically. It reads the tags, extracts key metrics like backlog numbers, and converts them to JSON.

Q: How does the FOIA.gov (Freedom of Information) MCP Server handle complex form requirements in Windsurf?

The getagencycomponentrequestform tool fetches the exact schema for any component UUID. Cascade reads this schema and generates the matching input fields directly in your code.

Q: Where do I add the configuration for this tool?

Add the server configuration to your mcpconfig.json file. Once saved, the editor automatically discovers the tools and makes them available to Cascade.

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Create your Vinkius account to connect FOIA.gov (Freedom of Information) to Windsurf and route execution through our secure gateway. The platform manages server hosting, runtime updates, and security layers. Configuration requires no manual server provisioning.

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Setup FOIA.gov (Freedom of Information) with Windsurf

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Map out government agency structures instantly

The `list_agency_components` tool pulls live data from the FOIA.gov API to map out the exact branches, offices, and sub-agencies you need to target. Cascade takes this structural data and immediately feeds it into your workspace, letting you filter by specific parameters without jumping between browser tabs. You get raw, structured JSON that shows exactly where to direct your public records requests. There is no guesswork about which office holds the records you want. Cascade processes this list and prepares your next step in the workspace.

Generate custom FOIA request forms automatically

The `get_agency_component_request_form` tool retrieves the precise schema and fields required by a specific federal office. Since different offices demand different information, Cascade uses this tool to pull the exact requirements and dynamically builds the form code in your editor. This saves you from looking up PDF guides or outdated government sites. You get the exact fields required for a successful submission, formatted and ready to be integrated into your local application.

Parse annual agency performance reports

The `get_annual_report_xml` tool pulls raw XML performance data for any registered agency component. Cascade reads this raw feed, parses the nested XML tags, and extracts processing times or backlog numbers to help you identify which offices are slowest. Instead of manually downloading massive files, you let your agent handle the dirty work of data extraction. You get clean, structured metrics that you can immediately pipe into a database or a local analysis script.

Setup guide

Set up FOIA.gov (Freedom of Information) MCP in Windsurf

Prerequisites

Windsurf IDE installed (macOS, Windows, or Linux)
Active Vinkius subscription with a valid endpoint token

1

Open MCP configuration

Click the Cascade assistant icon in the sidebar, then click the hammer icon (🔨) at the top of the panel. Select "Configure" to open ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json.
2

Add the FOIA.gov (Freedom of Information) MCP

Paste the JSON snippet shown on the right into the mcpServers object. Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your endpoint token from cloud.vinkius.com.
3

Refresh MCPs

Go back to the hammer icon (🔨) in Cascade and click "Refresh". Windsurf will detect the new server. No full restart is needed — the connection is hot-reloaded.
4

Verify in Cascade

Start a new Cascade conversation and ask something like "Show my FOIA.gov (Freedom of Information) payment history." If connected, Cascade will call the FOIA.gov (Freedom of Information) tools directly. You will see a green dot next to the server name in the MCP panel.

mcp_config.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "foiagov-freedom-of-information-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
    }
  }
}

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Independent Platform Disclaimer: Vinkius is an independent platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, verified by, or otherwise authorized by FOIA.gov. All third-party trademarks, logos, and brand names are the property of their respective owners. Their use on this website is strictly for informational purposes to identify service compatibility and interoperability.

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Common questions about FOIA.gov (Freedom of Information) MCP in Windsurf

Use Cascade to call `list_agency_components` with your desired search filters. The tool returns unique UUIDs for each sub-agency, which you can immediately use for deeper queries.

Yes, Cascade can parse the raw XML returned by `get_annual_report_xml` automatically. It reads the tags, extracts key metrics like backlog numbers, and converts them to JSON.

The `get_agency_component_request_form` tool fetches the exact schema for any component UUID. Cascade reads this schema and generates the matching input fields directly in your code.

Add the server configuration to your `mcp_config.json` file. Once saved, the editor automatically discovers the tools and makes them available to Cascade.

All requests to FOIA.gov go through a secure local proxy that handles your endpoint token. Your search queries and UUID lookups stay inside your local environment and are never stored on external servers.

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