But serious concerns have been raised about the ascertainment of public records and the lack of transparency of federal agencies.

In recent congressional hearings, it was revealed that top US public health officials created 'secret' back channels for communications on federal business in order to avoid prying eyes.

David Morens, a former top advisor to Anthony Fauci, allegedly destroyed public documents and boasted to colleagues that he would communicate with Fauci on personal Gmail accounts to circumvent FOIA requests.

"I can either send stuff to Tony [Fauci] on his private Gmail, or hand it to him," wrote Morens in emails presented by the House Select Subcommittee.

"[Fauci] is too smart to let colleagues send him stuff that could cause trouble," added Morens, suggesting that Fauci himself was involved in dodging FOIAs.

In the subpoenaed emails, Morens wrote that someone in the FOIA office of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) gave him instructions on how to destroy public records, boasting that he could make emails vanish without a trace.

"I learned from our foia lady here how to make emails disappear," wrote Morens in one email.

Morens also wrote that he would delete emails that could present as "smoking guns" to avoid implicating his long-time friend Peter Daszak of EcoHealth Alliance, in the Covid-19 pandemic.

When Morens was questioned by the Subcommittee and asked why he was trying to hide his emails and destroy federal records, he stumbled and fumbled, he acted confused, and claimed he had little recollection of the emails.

He also claimed he had no understanding of what a federal record was, despite being a federal employee for over two decades.

"I truly don't think I have ever seen a federal record in 26 years of being at NIH," Morens told the committee.

Many are now wondering whether there will be accountability.