USDA can now keep some smuggling records secret from the public

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) changed its rules to keep some records about smuggling and trade compliance secret. This means the public can no longer request these specific records under the Privacy Act.

The Privacy Act allows citizens to request records about themselves from federal agencies. This rule change means the USDA can now withhold information from the public about how it tracks and investigates smuggling. It shifts the balance of information away from public oversight and towards agency discretion in a specific area of enforcement.