Epstein Files Transparency Act
Within 30 days of enactment, the Department of Justice must create a searchable, public online database of all unclassified records, travel logs, internal prosecution memos, and death investigation files related to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Federal officials are prohibited from withholding or redacting records to protect politicians, public figures, or foreign officials from embarrassment or reputational damage. To safeguard privacy and justice, the government must redact victims' personal information, illegal abuse material, and graphic images of injury, and it may temporarily withhold details that would compromise active criminal trials. Any redactions must be publicly justified, and the Justice Department must provide Congress with a list of every government official named in the files.
What this bill touches.
Who it helps · who it burdens.
Who it helps
- The general publicGain open, downloadable, and searchable access to government investigative files, flight manifests, internal charging decisions, and records concerning Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and connected entities (Sec. 2(a)).
- Victims of Jeffrey Epstein and associatesProtected from public disclosure of their personally identifiable information, medical records, child sexual abuse material, and depictions of physical abuse or injury (Sec. 2(c)(1)(A), (B), (D)).
Who it burdens
- Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of InvestigationMust review, declassify to the maximum extent possible, and publish all covered unclassified investigative files, flight logs, and internal records in a searchable online format within 30 days, while submitting redaction justifications and reports to Congress (Sec. 2(a), 2(c), Sec. 3).
Who opposes it
- Public figures and government officials named in covered recordsExpressly denied redactions or withholding of records intended to prevent personal embarrassment, reputational damage, or political sensitivity, and must be included on an unredacted list provided to congressional committees (Sec. 2(b)(1), Sec. 3(3)).
The provisions, in plain language.
Show all 7 provisions
Requires the Attorney General to publicly release, within 30 days of enactment in a searchable and downloadable online format, all unclassified Department of Justice and FBI records regarding Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, related travel logs, associates, financial ties, immunity deals, internal charging decisions, and Epstein's detention and death.
Prohibits withholding, delaying, or redacting any covered records to prevent embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity, including for public figures and government officials.
Allows the Department of Justice to redact or withhold only limited categories of information, including victim identifying and medical information, child sexual abuse material, images of death or injury, temporary details that would disrupt an active investigation, and properly classified national defense secrets.
Directs the Attorney General to declassify covered records to the maximum extent possible, and to provide unclassified summaries for any classified material that cannot be publicly released.
Requires the Attorney General to report to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees within 15 days of completing the records release, listing what was released or withheld, summarizing redactions, and providing an unredacted list of all referenced government officials and politically exposed persons.
Requires the Department of Justice to publish a written explanation in the Federal Register and submit it to Congress for every redaction made.
Requires public notice in the Federal Register and a report to Congress for any decision made after July 1, 2025, to classify covered materials, including the date, the classifying authority, and a summary of the justification.
Requires the Attorney General to publicly release, within 30 days of enactment in a searchable and downloadable online format, all unclassified Department of Justice and FBI records regarding Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, related travel logs, associates, financial ties, immunity deals, internal charging decisions, and Epstein's detention and death.
Prohibits withholding, delaying, or redacting any covered records to prevent embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity, including for public figures and government officials.
Allows the Department of Justice to redact or withhold only limited categories of information, including victim identifying and medical information, child sexual abuse material, images of death or injury, temporary details that would disrupt an active investigation, and properly classified national defense secrets.
Directs the Attorney General to declassify covered records to the maximum extent possible, and to provide unclassified summaries for any classified material that cannot be publicly released.
Requires the Attorney General to report to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees within 15 days of completing the records release, listing what was released or withheld, summarizing redactions, and providing an unredacted list of all referenced government officials and politically exposed persons.
How your members of Congress line up
How members voted on Epstein Files Transparency Act.
Recorded roll calls on this bill, most recent first. Open one to see each member's position.
How it moved.
Show all 14 actions
- Became Public Law No: 119-38.
- Signed by President.
- Presented to President.
- Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- Received in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed, under the order of 11/18/2025, without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8211)
- Passed/agreed to in Senate: Received in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed, under the order of 11/18/2025, without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by recorded vote (2/3 required): 427 - 1 (Roll no. 289). (text: CR H4725)
- Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by recorded vote (2/3 required): 427 - 1 (Roll no. 289). (text: CR H4725)
- DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4405.
- Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4725-4733)
- Mr. Jordan moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
- Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Introduced in House
- Became Public Law No: 119-38.
- Signed by President.
- Presented to President.
- Received in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed, under the order of 11/18/2025, without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8211)
- Passed/agreed to in Senate: Received in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed, under the order of 11/18/2025, without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by recorded vote (2/3 required): 427 - 1 (Roll no. 289). (text: CR H4725)
- Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by recorded vote (2/3 required): 427 - 1 (Roll no. 289). (text: CR H4725)
- Introduced in House
Read it for yourself.
Sources & provenance
- Public Law 119-38
- primary source →
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Cite this page
Civic Herald. “Epstein Files Transparency Act (H.R. 4405, 119th Congress).” https://civicherald.app/bills/119-hr-4405. Congress.gov record as of Jul 18, 2026.