Daniel J. Metcalfe
Adjunct Professor of Law
Executive Director, Collaboration on Government Secrecy
Office: 4910 Building - Suite 16
Phone: 202-274-4134
E-mail: metcalfe@wcl.american.edu
Dan Metcalfe joined the faculty of WCL in 2007 as a Faculty Fellow in Law and Government upon retiring from a career in government service that began at the Department of Justice in 1971 and now is an adjunct professor as well as Executive Director of the school's Collaboration on Government Secrecy. After a judicial clerkship and serving as a Justice Department trial attorney, he was appointed as a founding director of the Department’s Office of Information and Privacy in 1981. For more than a quarter-century, he guided all federal agencies on the governmentwide administration of the Freedom of Information Act, supervised the defense of more than 500 FOIA and Privacy Act lawsuits in district and appellate courts, and met with representatives of nearly 100 nations and international governing bodies as they considered the development and implementation of their own government transparency laws. He became a career member of the Senior Executive Service in 1984, the youngest Justice Department attorney then and since to hold such a position, and also has been named an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at University College London.
Currently Teaching
Degrees & Universities
- J.D., George Washington University 1976
- B.A., State University of New York at Stony Brook 1973
Selected Publications
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Sunshine Not So Bright: FOIA Implementation Lags Behind, 34 Admin. & Reg. L. News 5 (Summer 2009).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, A Freedom of Information Story: Secrecy Gives Way to Transparency, 35 Access Reports 3 (July 8, 2009).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, The Nature of Government Secrecy, 26 Govt. Info. Q. 305 (2009).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Tell Us More, Legal Times (Dec. 8, 2008).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, The Cycle Continues: Congress Amends the FOIA in 2007, 33 Admin. & Reg. L. News 11 (Spring 2008).
-
More Publications...
-
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, What Does DOJ Need Now -- Find Someone Like Levi, Legal Times (Sept. 4, 2007).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, ed., Justice Department Guide to the Freedom of Information Act, (Dept. of Just., 1982 - 2007).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, ed., FOIA Post, (Dept. of Just., 2001 - 2006).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, ed., FOIA Update, (Dept. of Just., 1981 - 2000).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Department of Justice FOIA Implementation Advice to Other Nations, (Dept. of Just., Dec. 2002).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Department of Justice Report on "Electronic Record" FOIA Issues, (Dept. of Just., Apr. 1990).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, The Right to Financial Privacy Act, Civ. Div. Monograph (Feb. 1979).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Gautreaux v. Chicago Housing Authority: Civil Rights Remedies (note), 43 Geo. Wash. L. Rev. 663 (1975).
-
Selected Works in Progress
- Daniel J. Metcalfe & Stephen I. Vladeck, Secrecy Law: Cases & Materials (Carolina Academic Press forthcoming 2010).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Pseudosecrecy (Rowman & Littlefield forthcoming 2010).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Secrecy 101 (forthcoming 2011).
-
Selected Presentations
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Conference Organizer & Moderator, International Right-to-Know Day Celebration (American University Washington College of Law, Wash., D.C., Sept. 28, 2009).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Panelist, Annual Convention of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (Bos., Mass., Aug. 7, 2009).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Keynote Speaker & Panel Moderator, FOI Live Conference (London, Eng., June 11, 2009).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Conference Organizer & Moderator, FOIA Community Conference: Privacy Protection After Twenty Years Under Reporters Committee (Founders' Celebration Event, American University Washington College of Law, Wash., D.C., Apr. 28, 2009).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Conference Organizer & Moderator, Second Annual Freedom of Information Day Celebration (Founders' Celebration Event, American University Washington College of Law, Wash., D.C., Mar. 16, 2009).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Speaker, First Amendment Center’s 2009 National FOI Day Conference (Wash., D.C., Mar. 13, 2009).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Presentation, E-Discovery and E-FOIA (University of Maryland Graduate School, College Park, Md., Mar. 9, 2009).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Panelist, The Obama Administration and the State Secrets Privilege (American University Washington College of Law, Wash., D.C., Mar. 4, 2009).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Conference Organizer & Moderator, FOIA Community Conference on Information Policy in the New Administration (Founders' Celebration Event, American University Washington College of Law, Wash., D.C., Jan. 29, 2009).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Briefing, National Academy of Public Administration (Wash., D.C., Dec. 12, 2008).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Conference Organizer & Moderator, International Right-to-Know Day Celebration (American University Washington College of Law, Wash., D.C., Sept. 29. 2008).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Keynote Speaker, Library of Congress’s 25th Annual Information Policy Program (Wash., D.C., Sept. 12, 2008).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Panelist, Annual Convention of the Society of Professional Journalists (Atlanta, Ga., Sept. 6, 2008).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Panel Moderator, National Freedom of Information Coalition's 2008 FOI Summit (Phila., Pa., May 10, 2008).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Conference Organizer & Moderator, First Annual Freedom of Information Day Celebration (Founders’ Celebration Event, American University Washington College of Law, Wash., D.C., Mar. 17, 2008).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Panelist, First Amendment Center’s 2008 National FOI Day Conference (Wash., D.C., Mar. 14, 2008).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Keynote Speaker/Moderator, FOIA Community Conference on the 2007 FOIA Amendments (Founders’ Celebration Event, American University Washington College of Law, Wash., D.C., Jan. 16, 2008).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Moderator, International Right-to-Know Day Celebration (Program on Law and Government, American University Washington College of Law, Wash., D.C., Sept. 28, 2007).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Panelist, ABA FOIA Webcast (Wash., D.C., Sept. 2007).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Keynote Speaker, American Society of Access Professionals Conference (Las Vegas, Nev., Mar. 2007).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Testimony, House Government Management Subcomm. of Government Reform Committee (July 2006).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Panelist, 27th Washington Writers Conference (Wash., D.C., June 2006).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Speech, International Conference of Information Commissioners (Manchester, Eng., May 2006).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Speech, FOI Live Conference (London, Eng., May 2006).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Panelist, First Amendment Center’s Annual FOI Day Celebration (Rosslyn, Va., Mar. 2006).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Panelist, ABA First Annual Homeland Security Institute (Wash., D.C., Jan. 2006).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Debate, Heritage Foundation (Wash., D.C., Oct. 2005).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Panelist, National Academy of Public Administration (Wash., D.C., Oct. 2005).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Panelist, National Freedom of Information Coalition Annual Conference (Santa Fe, N.M., May 2005).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Panelist, First Amendment Center’s Annual FOI Day Celebration (Rosslyn, Va., Mar. 2005).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Speech, National Academy of Public Administration (Wash., D.C., Mar. 2005).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Speech, International Law Institute (Wash., D.C., Feb. 2005).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Luncheon Speaker, Radio and Television News Directors Association (Wash., D.C., June 2004).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Debate, National Security and the Law Society (American University Washington College of Law, Wash., D.C., Mar. 2004).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Presentation, American Society of Access Professionals Conference (San Diego, Cal., Mar. 2004).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Debate, American Society of Access Professionals Conference (San Diego, Cal., Mar. 2004).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Panelist, National Academy of Public Administration (Wash., D.C., Feb. 2004).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Panelist, ABA Mid-Winter Meeting (San Antonio, Tex., Jan. 2004).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Keynote Speaker, Department of Homeland Security’s First Annual FOIA Conference (Wash., D.C., Aug. 2003).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Speech, American Society of Newspaper Editors' "FOI Summit" (Rosslyn, Va., June 2003).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Panelist, First Amendment Center’s Annual FOI Day Celebration (Rosslyn, Va., Mar. 2003).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Keynote Speaker, Freedom of Information and Data Protection Conference (London, Eng., Dec. 2002).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Panelist, National Press Club Openness-in-Government Program (Wash., D.C., Oct. 2002).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Panelist, First Amendment Center’s Annual FOI Day Celebration (Rosslyn, Va., Mar. 2002).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Panelist, ABA Mid-Winter Meeting (Phila., Pa., Jan. 2002).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Panelist, National Press Club Government Information Program (Wash., D.C., Sept. 2001).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Speech, National Press Club FOI Day Celebration (Wash., D.C., Mar. 1993).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Testimony, Senate Technology and the Law Subcomm. of Senate Judiciary Committee (Apr. 1992).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Panelist, ABA 25th Anniversary of the FOIA Celebration (Wash., D.C., July 1991) (reprinted in 9 Govt. Info. Q. 253-54 (1992)).
- Daniel J. Metcalfe, Panelist, ABA 25th Anniversary of the FOIA Celebration (Wash., D.C., July 1991).
-
Selected Media Appearances
- Washington Independent, "Lawyers Allege Ongoing 'Dragnet' Surveillance" (Ctr. for Indep. Media 11/13/09) (Interview).
- National Law Journal, "Dark Chapter" (Incisive Media, Ltd. Aug. 24, 2009) (Profile).
- The FOI Advocate, "Implementation of FOIA Falls Short" (Mo. Sch. of Journalism Aug. 1, 2009) (Article Coverage).
- Newsweek, "Obama Closes Doors on Openness" (Newsweek, Inc. June 29, 2009) (Interview).
- Main Justice, "Obama Not Living Up to Promise of Openness" (WDC Media LLC June 22, 2009) (Interview).
- Columbia Journalism Review, "Shadows and Light: Dan Metcalfe on Government Transparency" (Journalism Sch. of Colum. U. May 13, 2009) (Video Interview).
- YouTube, "Daniel J. Metcalfe on Transparency and Discretionary Disclosure" (YouTube, LLC May 12, 2009) (Interview).
- The Daily Debrief, "Living in the World of 'Pseudo-secrecy'" (Federal News Radio Apr. 17, 2009) (Radio Program).
- Columbia Journalism Review, "Holder Has a New FOIA Policy" (Journalism Sch. of Colum. U. Mar. 26, 2009) (Interview).
- Concurring Opinions, "The Order of the Day: Openness" (Concurring Opinions, LLC Mar. 22, 2009) (Interview).
- Legal Times, "Holder Issued New FOIA Guidelines" (Incisive Media, Ltd. Mar. 19, 2009) (Interview).
- ProPublica, "Talking with the Former FOIA Czar" (Pro Publica, Inc. Mar. 12, 2009) (Interview).
- Congress Daily, "Watchdogs Debate Transformation of Openness Policy" (Natl. J. Group, Inc. Feb. 2, 2009) (Conference Coverage).
- C-SPAN, "Luncheon Presentation at Washington College of Law" (Natl. Cable Satellite Corp. Jan. 29, 2009) (Speaker Introduction).
- CNN, "Obama's Blackberry Jam" (CNN Jan. 8, 2009) (Television Interview).
- ProPublica, "Where Things Stand: Obama and Transparency" (Pro Publica, Inc. Dec. 29, 2008) (Interview).
- Politico, "Blago Records May Stay Under Wraps" (Capitol News Co. LLC Dec. 22, 2008) (Interview).
- The AmLaw Daily, "White & Case's Terwilliger Withdraws from Civil Suit Against Ex-AG" (Incisive Media, Ltd. Dec. 8, 2008) (Interview).
- Talking Points Memo, "Another Sign Prosecutor Is Circling Gonzales?" (TPM Media Dec. 5, 2008) (Interview).
- Legal Times, "Conyers, Leahy Want Details on Gonzales' Legal Fees" (Am. L. Media Nov. 24, 2008) (Interview).
- McClatchy Newspapers, "Taxpayers Will Pay for Gonzales' Private Attorney" (McClatchy-Tribune News Serv. Nov. 18, 2008) (Interview).
- FEDtalk, "Politicization of the Justice Department" (Federal News Radio Sept. 19, 2008) (Radio Interview).
- KBOO, "Politics in Washington, D.C." (KBOO Community Radio, Portland, Or. Sept. 4, 2008) (Radio Interview).
- Legal Times, "Lawsuit Over Politicized DOJ Hiring Expands" (Am. L. Media Aug. 18, 2008) (Interview).
- ABC News, "Lawsuit Filed Against Gonzales & DOJ Officials" (Am. Broad. Sys. Aug. 15, 2008) (Interview).
- Los Angeles Times, "Bush Justice Department Sued for Partisan Hiring" (L.A. Times July 3, 2008) (Interview).
- New York Times, "New Scrutiny of Hiring at Justice Department" (N.Y. Times July 2, 2008) (Interview).
- Legal Times, "Ex-Honors Program Applicant Sues DOJ Over Politicized Hiring" (Am. L. Media July 2, 2008) (Interview).
- United States Law Week Legal News, Vol. 76, No. 46, "Justice Department Issues Agency Guidance for Annual FOIA Reporting Requirements" (BNA June 3, 2008) (Interview).
- Washington Post, "Eyes Only: [redacted]" (Wash. Post Co. May 8, 2008) (Newspaper Interview).
- Bureau of National Affairs Daily Report, "Little Gain in Agency FOIA Compliance Since 2005 Executive Order, Study Finds" (BNA Mar. 18, 2008) (Interview).
- First Amendment Center Online, "New FOIA Bill Signals Renewed Push for Sunshine" (Freedom Forum Mar. 17, 2008) (Interview).
- Gainesville Sun, "Shrouded In Secrecy" (N.Y. Times Regional Media Group Mar. 15, 2008) (Interview).
- Bureau of National Affairs Daily Report, "Justice Department FOIA Office Lags in Processing Requests" (BNA Feb. 6, 2008) (Interview).
- Ocala Star-Banner, "Bush Seeks to Reverse Open Records Move" (N.Y. Times Regional Media Group Feb. 6, 2008) (Interview).
- Bureau of National Affairs Daily Report, "Bush Budget Proposal Moves FOIA Office to Justice Department" (BNA Feb. 5, 2008) (Interview).
- Cox News, "Bush Eliminates FOIA Ombudsman" (Cox News Service Feb. 4, 2008) (Interview).
- United States Law Week Legal News, Vol. 76, No. 28, "White House Plan to Put New FOIA Office in Justice Department Draws Lawmakers' Ire" (BNA Jan. 29, 2008) (Interview).
- News Media & the Law, "Mukasey: No Stranger to Media Law Issues" (Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Fall 2007) (Magazine Interview).
- Radio Times, "The Challenges for the Next Attorney General" (WHYY Radio/NPR Sirius Radio Sept. 20, 2007) (Radio Interview).
- Clement in America, "Justice Under President Bush" (Danish Public Broadcasting System Sept. 5, 2007) (Television Interview).
- Legal Times, "Getting Over Gonzales: DOJ Seeks to Recover" (Legal Times Sept. 3, 2007) (Newspaper Interview).
- U.S. News & World Report, "The Mess He Left Behind" (U.S. News & World Report Sept. 2, 2007) (Magazine Interview).
- The Gonzales Resignation Ramifications (Public Broadcasting Service Aug. 30, 2007) (Radio Interview).
- Talk of the Nation, "What Makes a Good Attorney General?" (NPR Aug. 30, 2007) (Radio Interview).
- USA Today, "Gonzales’ Successor to Inherit a Fractured Agency" (Gannett Co. Inc. Aug. 27, 2007) (Newspaper Interview).
- NPR Special Coverage, "Gonzales Resigns as Attorney General" (NPR Aug. 27, 2007) (Radio Interview).
- New York Times, "Gonzales, Loyal to Bush, Was Firm on War Policies" (N.Y. Times Aug. 27, 2007) (Newspaper Interview).
- Legal Times, "After Long Fight, Embattled Gonzales Resigns; Clement to Serve as AG in Interim" (Legal Times Aug. 27, 2007) (Newspaper Interview).
- The Tavis Smiley Show (Public Broadcasting Service Aug. 27, 2007) (Television Interview).
- Talk of the Nation, "Gonzales Leaves Justice with Few Defenders" (NPR Aug. 27, 2007) (Radio Interview).
- CNN International, "Alberto Gonzales Resigns" (CNN Aug. 27, 2007) (Television Interview).
- Gonzales’ Successor Faces Demoralized Agency (NPR Aug. 27, 2007) (Interview).
- Gonzales Seen as Politicizing Justice Department (Reuters Aug. 20, 2007) (Newspaper Interview).
- New York Times, "Justice Department Lawyers Join Chorus Criticizing Gonzales" (N.Y. Times July 27, 2007) (Newspaper Interview).
- Former Justice Official Opens Up About FOIA (Cox News Service June 12, 2007) (Interview).
- Former Justice Official Blasts Gonzales (Cox News Service June 9, 2007) (Interview).
- FEDtalk, "Disclosure Laws and Career SES Politicization" (Federal News Radio June 1, 2007) (Radio Interview).
- USA Today, "Justice ‘Tied at the Hip’ to White House, Hurts Respect for Law" (Gannett Co. Inc. May 30, 2007) (Editorial).
- National Journal, "Opening Argument: Another Gonzales Horror Story" (National Journal May 21, 2007) (Interview).
- St. Louis Post-Dispatch, "Crime and Punishment Inside Bush’s Justice Department?" (St. Louis Post-Dispatch May 9, 2007) (Newspaper Interview).
- LAW.COM, "Justice Department's Independence "Shattered," Says Former DOJ Attorney" (Law.com/Incisive Media Apr. 16, 2007) (Interview).
- A Senior Justice Official Speaks Out (Legal Times Apr. 13, 2007) (Interview).
- Government Executive Magazine, "Balancing Openness and Privacy" (Government Executive Magazine Mar. 1, 2007) (Profile).
- Government Executive Magazine Online, "Key ‘Open Government’ Official Leaves Policy Mark" (Government Executive Magazine Dec. 21, 2006) (Profile).
- DOJ FOIA Chief Retires (Cox News Service Nov. 2, 2006) (Profile).
- FEDtalk, "How the Freedom of Information Act Affects Feds" (Federal News Radio Apr. 14, 2006) (Radio Interview).
- KBS Television Documentary, "International Transparency" (Korean Broadcasting System Dec. 13, 2003) (Television Program).
- New York Times, "Critics Say New Rule Limits Access to Records" (N.Y. Times Co. Feb. 27, 2002) (Interview).
- Ceska Televize Documentary, "Government Openness Laws" (Czech Television May 15, 2000) (Television Program).
- USIA Web Broadcast, "Freedom of Information" (United States Information Agency -- Fukuoka, Japan, Mar. 27, 1998) (Webcast).
- Worldnet, "The Information Age -- Access for All" (U.S. Info. Agency Mar. 23, 1996) (Television Program).
- CNN, "A Closer Look: Government Secrecy" (CNN Mar. 16, 1992) (Television Interview).