FOIA.gov (Freedom of Information) Connector for AI agents.
4 live capabilities
Access US government public records and transparency data.
Waiting for input…
Why people use FOIA.gov (Freedom of Information)
FOIA.gov for Public Records Research
This Connector changes the game. You just tell your agent what you're looking for. It queries the FOIA.gov API to find the right component, grabs the metadata you need, and tells you exactly what the request form requires. You get the facts without the tab-switching.
What Vinkius changes
You get direct access to government transparency data without the manual search.
Use it from Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor or another AI client you already have.
One account · 5,900+ Connectors
- Real-world use case 01
Finding the right office
A journalist asks which agency handles "drone flight logs.
- Real-world use case 02
Preparing a legal request
A lawyer needs to know the exact fields for a DOJ request.
- Real-world use case 03
Analyzing transparency
A researcher wants to see DOJ trends.
Complete set · 4capabilities
The complete FOIA.gov (Freedom of Information) capability set.
These are the exact actions your AI can choose when you ask it to work with FOIA.gov (Freedom of Information).
01—04
4 capabilities in this set.
Part of 4 available through FOIA.gov (Freedom of Information).
- 01 Capability
List agency components
Lists all FOIA agency components with support for sparse fieldsets. You can quickly see the scope of government offices.
- 02 Capability
Get agency component request form
Grabs the specific structure and fields for a component's request form. It helps you know exactly what to submit.
- 03 Capability
Get agency component
Fetches deep metadata for a specific agency component using its UUID. Use this to get the nitty-gritty details on a single office.
- 04 Capability
Get annual report xml
Pulls an agency's annual report in XML format. It's the best way to get raw data for large-scale analysis.
Set up in minutes
One URL. Then ask FOIA.gov (Freedom of Information) to work.
Claude and ChatGPT only need the Connector URL. Copy it once, add it in settings, and use FOIA.gov (Freedom of Information) from the conversation.
Choose your client
Live previewAdvanced clients IDE · CLI
Claude · Web + desktop
Connector URL · ready to paste
Streamable HTTPhttps://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_QVJ73jQfdjJfOUeBAPUp0dxxpvTDMFeaMaalwTc0/mcp - Step 01
Open Connectors
In Claude Web or Claude Desktop, open Settings and choose Connectors.
- Step 02
Add the URL
Choose Add custom connector, name it FOIA.gov (Freedom of Information), and paste the URL above.
- Step 03
Turn it on in chat
Select +, open Connectors, and enable FOIA.gov (Freedom of Information) for the conversation.
ChatGPT · Web + desktop
Connector URL · ready to paste
Streamable HTTPhttps://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_QVJ73jQfdjJfOUeBAPUp0dxxpvTDMFeaMaalwTc0/mcp - Step 01
Open MCP settings
On desktop, open Settings and MCP servers. On web, open your workspace app or connector settings.
- Step 02
Add the URL
Choose Add server with Streamable HTTP, or create a custom MCP app, then paste the FOIA.gov (Freedom of Information) URL.
- Step 03
Save and start
Save the connection and enable FOIA.gov (Freedom of Information) in your conversation. Desktop may ask you to restart once.
Cursor · IDE configuration
Advanced setup
{
"mcpServers": {
"foiagov-freedom-of-information": {
"url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_QVJ73jQfdjJfOUeBAPUp0dxxpvTDMFeaMaalwTc0/mcp"
}
}
}- Step 01
Open MCP Settings
Press Cmd+Shift+P (macOS) or Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows/Linux) → search "MCP Settings"
- Step 02
Add the server config
Paste the JSON configuration above into the mcp.json file that opens
- Step 03
Save the file
Cursor will automatically detect the new Connector
- Step 04
Start using FOIA.gov (Freedom of Information)
Open Agent mode in chat and ask: "Using FOIA.gov (Freedom of Information), help me...". 4 tools available
VS Code Copilot · IDE configuration
Advanced setup
{
"mcpServers": {
"foiagov-freedom-of-information": {
"url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_QVJ73jQfdjJfOUeBAPUp0dxxpvTDMFeaMaalwTc0/mcp"
}
}
}- Step 01
Create MCP config
Create a .vscode/mcp.json file in your project root
- Step 02
Add the server config
Paste the JSON configuration above
- Step 03
Enable Agent mode
Open GitHub Copilot Chat and switch to Agent mode using the dropdown
- Step 04
Start using FOIA.gov (Freedom of Information)
Ask Copilot: "Using FOIA.gov (Freedom of Information), help me...". 4 tools available
Windsurf · IDE configuration
Advanced setup
{
"mcpServers": {
"foiagov-freedom-of-information": {
"url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_QVJ73jQfdjJfOUeBAPUp0dxxpvTDMFeaMaalwTc0/mcp"
}
}
}- Step 01
Open MCP Settings
Go to Settings → MCP Configuration or press Cmd+Shift+P and search "MCP"
- Step 02
Add the server
Paste the JSON configuration above into mcp_config.json
- Step 03
Save and reload
Windsurf will detect the new server automatically
- Step 04
Start using FOIA.gov (Freedom of Information)
Open Cascade and ask: "Using FOIA.gov (Freedom of Information), help me...". 4 tools available
Cline · IDE configuration
Advanced setup
{
"mcpServers": {
"foiagov-freedom-of-information": {
"url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_QVJ73jQfdjJfOUeBAPUp0dxxpvTDMFeaMaalwTc0/mcp"
}
}
}- Step 01
Open Cline MCP Settings
Click the Connectors icon in the Cline sidebar panel
- Step 02
Add remote server
Click "Add Connector" and paste the configuration above
- Step 03
Enable the server
Toggle the server switch to ON
- Step 04
Start using FOIA.gov (Freedom of Information)
Ask Cline: "Using FOIA.gov (Freedom of Information), help me...". 4 tools available
Claude Code · Terminal command
Advanced setup
claude mcp add foiagov-freedom-of-information --transport http "https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_QVJ73jQfdjJfOUeBAPUp0dxxpvTDMFeaMaalwTc0/mcp"- Step 01
Install Claude Code
Run npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code if not already installed
- Step 02
Add the Connector
Run the command above in your terminal
- Step 03
Verify the connection
Run claude mcp to list connected servers, or type /mcp inside a session
- Step 04
Start using FOIA.gov (Freedom of Information)
Ask Claude: "Using FOIA.gov (Freedom of Information), show me...". 4 tools are ready
Where the request belongs
Work FOIA.gov can move forward.
This is for the people who spend all day digging through government websites to find a single piece of truth. It's for anyone tired of "page not found" errors and inconsistent agency requirements.
Journalist
Verifies which agency handles specific records to speed up reporting on government actions.
Legal Researcher
Pulls request form structures to ensure legal filings meet exact agency standards.
Data Analyst
Downloads XML annual reports to track transparency trends over time across different departments.
Build the capability set
Add more capabilities.
Each Connector adds new actions and data without changing how you work.
Browse ConnectorsGovInfo
Search and retrieve official US Government documents and publications via AI.
Federal Register API
Access US public documents. audit rules and agencies via AI.
Data.gov Catalog
Access the official US Government open data catalog. Search thousands of datasets, organizations, and spatial data directly from your AI agent.
GovInfo (GPO Legislative Docs)
Access official US government documents, legislative bills, and federal registers directly from the GPO.
OpenGov
Access OpenGov data directly—list reports, query financial funds, and manage users or departments through your AI agent.
Federal Register
Access the official daily publication for rules, proposed rules, and notices of Federal agencies and organizations.
Bring your own AI
Change the model, client or framework. Keep FOIA.gov connected.
-
Claude -
ChatGPT -
Gemini -
Cursor -
VS Code -
Windsurf -
ZCode -
Cline -
Zed -
Continue -
Kiro -
Roo Code -
Zencoder -
Goose -
Void -
Augment Code -
Amp -
Qodo -
Tabnine -
Pieces -
Sourcegraph Cody -
JetBrains -
Warp -
Amazon Q -
Antigravity -
BoltAI -
Raycast -
Jan -
LM Studio -
AnythingLLM -
Open WebUI -
Msty -
Cherry Studio -
LibreChat -
TypingMind -
Chorus -
5ire -
n8n -
LangChain -
LlamaIndex -
CrewAI -
Vercel AI SDK
Before you connect
Questions about FOIA.gov.
The practical details behind the request, access and result.
Can the FOIA.gov MCP find specific government offices?
Yes, it lets your agent search the entire list of FOIA agency components so you can find the exact office responsible for your records.
How does the FOIA.gov MCP help with legal requests?
It pulls the specific form structures for different agencies. This ensures your request meets their unique requirements the first time you submit it.
Can I use the FOIA.gov MCP to get data for my own research?
Absolutely. You can pull annual reports in XML format, which is perfect for tracking transparency metrics or analyzing government data over time.
Does the FOIA.gov MCP search all government websites?
It specifically connects to the FOIA.gov API, which is the primary hub for Freedom of Information Act data across all US agencies.
What kind of data does the FOIA.gov MCP provide?
It provides agency metadata, specific request form requirements, and annual transparency reports in XML format.
How can I find the specific requirements for filing a FOIA request with an agency?
You can use the get_agency_component_request_form capability with the agency's UUID. It will return the full structure of the form, including all required fields and instructions.
Is it possible to list all sub-components of a major government agency?
Yes. Use list_agency_components and you can include the parent agency information to filter or identify all components belonging to a specific department.
Can I access the raw annual transparency reports for data analysis?
Absolutely. The get_annual_report_xml capability allows you to fetch the official NIEM-standard XML reports for any agency and year (e.g., DOJ, 2021).
One connection away
Give your agent a direct line to FOIA.gov.
Connect FOIA.gov once. Keep it beside 5,900+ managed Connectors when the next task needs more.
Explore every Connector No credit card required · Free tier available