There are estimates that 500 semitruck loads will be needed to haul the FBI’s closed files to the facility. 

FOIA requests and digital access

The use of automated technology to consolidate these files in one single location, not only represents huge cost savings, but it will also help the FBI comply with the mounting numbers of Freedom of Information Acts (FOIA) requests.

Information in the case files is also frequently sought by prosecutors, agents, and investigators.

When requests are made, the original files are digitized and sent back. Until now, those file requests would be distributed to individual offices and their staff. Digitizing all the files with the current staffing and the technology available could take more than 40 years. 

“Having everything under one roof along with an army of robots and FBI employees dedicated to the task will ease the burden on field offices and streamline file retrieval,” said Gaylord.

This is a high tech facility that will ultimately store about 120 linear miles of closed files. And the over 2 billion pages in the files when lined up “end-to-end would go to the moon and beyond.” she added.

How does it work?

In preparation for the transition, IMD staff have trained field offices on how to prep all their files before they are boxed, put on pallets, and shipped to Winchester.