Opinion ID: 552329
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: The National Security Agency

Text: 57 Appellant sent his request to the NSA on August 21, 1985. The NSA responded on October 15, 1985, informing appellant that it would not conduct the search unless he paid one-half of the estimated search costs in advance and also agreed to pay the balance. See Letter to Carl Oglesby from Julia B. Wetzel (Oct. 15, 1985), reprinted in J.A. at 70-71. Appellant did not challenge the NSA's denial of his fee waiver request administratively, therefore he did not constructively exhaust his remedies and was not entitled initially to bring any challenge in district court. The district court nevertheless found that the issue of the fee waiver was the only issue before the court at that time, and that the issue was moot because the NSA subsequently agreed to waive the fees. See Oglesby, Mem. op. at 9; reprinted in J.A. at 275. However, because the appellant had failed to exhaust his administrative remedies with respect to each of his claims, none of his claims were properly before the court, including the challenge of the NSA's denial of appellant's fee waiver request. 58 Appellant's FOIA request became complete when the NSA granted his fee waiver request. If, as suggested by the briefs in this case, the NSA has already responded to appellant's FOIA request, then appellant must pursue his administrative remedies with respect to any adverse rulings before bringing suit.