The Triangulation Model
We do not rely on leaks, rumors, or press releases. We rely on the "Collision of Records"—where the Agency's claims contradict its own data.
How We Prove It
Modern government is too vast to audit manually. The CFA utilizes an algorithmic approach to oversight. We ingest disparate datasets to cross-reference Legal Authority against Operational Reality. This methodology is the logical extension of constitutional oversight powers and statutory transparency requirements.
The First Amendment guarantees the freedom of the press and the right to petition the government. The Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. § 552) exists to "shed light on an agency's performance of its statutory duties." When the Procurement Data shows a purchase (Reality) that the Privacy Impact Assessment does not cover (Authority), we flag a Statutory Violation. The Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. § 552a) requires agencies to publish System of Records Notices (SORNs). The E-Government Act of 2002 mandates Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs). The Digital Accountability and Transparency Act (DATA Act) requires agencies to publish spending data. When these datasets contradict each other, we have identified a violation of law.
1. The Authority
WHAT THEY MUST DO
We index the "Rules of the Road." All government action must be authorized by law. We use U.S. Code & CFR, Federal Register (SORNs & Rulemaking), and OMB Memos.
2. The Claim
WHAT THEY SAY THEY DO
We scrape the "Compliance Paperwork." Agencies are required by law to document their activities: PIAs, Exhibit 300s, Strategic Plans.
3. The Reality
WHAT THEY ACTUALLY DO
We analyze the "Exhaust Data." Government operations generate digital records: FPDS-NG / SAM.gov, FedRAMP Marketplace, Job Postings.
The FOIA Factory
Public data has gaps. When our Triangulation Model identifies a "Missing Artifact," we trigger a targeted Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. The FOIA Improvement Act of 2016 established a "presumption of openness." We do not send generic fishing expeditions; we request specific document control numbers, citing the statutory requirement that triggered the document's creation.