Again, money talks. In the United States, if I make a Freedom of Information Act complaint or request, they have to respond within so many days. They can ask for an extension. If they don't comply, there's money attached. If they don't comply again, they can come to court.
Why aren't you having deadlines? If they're going to respond to a letter, they should have seven or 10 days, or whatever it is. If they don't, they have to have an explanation or they have to ask for an extension, and then if they don't, they cough up the money. If they keep paying, money eventually talks. Why is the federal government handing out money for abuse? They're partnering with abuse, and they need to be called out on that abuse.