Brian Brainchild is a talented graduate student in biomedical science, and believes his work over the past few years can help identify weaknesses in protective gear utilized by American troops in combat. He submits an FOIA request to the Department of the Defense seeking disclosure of the makeup of the gear currently produced under contract with Lockheed Martin. Brainchild's request is denied, but under which exemption to FOIA?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The denial of disclosure based on the makeup of the protective gear currently produced under contract with Lockheed Martin falls under the exemption of trade secrets. Lockheed Martin likely considers the specific details of the gear's construction to be sensitive information that if leaked would harm their competitive position in the marketplace. As a result, the Department of Defense is most likely denying Brian's request on the basis of trade secrets.

Brian Brainchild Is a Talented Graduate Student in Biomedical Science