Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

That's a strange thing, there. Every time I've written it -- and most times when I've seen it written -- the article is dropped on second reference (so "an exception to FOIA," not "an exception to the FOIA"). I usually hear it in conversation the same way; I can't actually think of a time I heard it otherwise. That said, I do not doubt your account that the experts on FOIA presenting at your seminar said it in the way you related, and I would agree that it sounds pretentious, according some sort of preeminent, singular status to their area of expertise. A subtle play at job preservation, perhaps.