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Version 49 · Public Law · Nov 19, 2025
Epstein Files Transparency Act
This act requires the Department of Justice (DOJ) to publish (in a searchable and downloadable format) all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials in DOJ's possession that relate to the investigation and prosecution of Jeffrey Epstein.
This includes (1) materials that relate to Ghislaine Maxwell, (2) flight logs and travel records, and (3) individuals named or referenced (including government officials) in connection with the investigation and prosecution of Jeffrey Epstein.
DOJ is permitted to withhold certain information such as the personal information of victims and materials that would jeopardize an active federal investigation.
Additionally, not later than 15 days after the required publication, DOJ must report to Congress (1) all categories of information released and withheld, (2) a summary of any redactions made, and (3) a list of all government officials and politically exposed individuals named or referenced in the published materials.
People & committees
Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17] · D–CA
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Became Public Law No: 119-38.
Became Public Law No: 119-38.
Signed by President.
Signed by President.
Presented to 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)
House roll call 289 · Individual votesPassed/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)
House roll call 289 · Individual votesDEBATE - 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
Introduced in House
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We also preserved the text version used in the PlainBill explanation below.
Source last updated: Jul 18, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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PlainBill explanation
Based on the full Enrolled Bill text. This explanation has not received human editorial review. This overview describes the legislation as enacted, without incorporating later amendments. It does not establish its real-world effects.
The Epstein Files Transparency Act requires the Justice Department to publish Epstein-related records, subject to specified exceptions, and report to Congress.
This Act may be cited as the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
the Attorney General shall, subject to subsection (b), make publicly available in a searchable and downloadable format all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials in the possession of the Department of Justice
The Attorney general may withhold or redact the segregable portions of records
the Attorney General shall submit to the House and Senate Committees on the Judiciary a report
The Attorney General must release covered unclassified records within 30 days after enactment in a searchable, downloadable format. The requirement includes records held by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and United States Attorneys’ Offices.
Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall, subject to subsection (b), make publicly available in a searchable and downloadable format all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials in the possession of the Department of Justice, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and United States Attorneys’ Offices
Covered records include Epstein investigations, prosecutions and custody; records relating to Ghislaine Maxwell; and travel records for aircraft, vessels or vehicles used by Epstein or related entities.
(1) Jeffrey Epstein including all investigations, prosecutions, or custodial matters. (2) Ghislaine Maxwell. (3) Flight logs or travel records, including but not limited to manifests, itineraries, pilot records, and customs or immigration documentation, for any aircraft, vessel, or vehicle owned, operated, or used by Jeffrey Epstein or any related entity.
Coverage extends to individuals referenced in connection with Epstein’s criminal activities, settlements, agreements or investigations, and organizations with known or alleged ties to his trafficking or financial networks.
(4) Individuals, including government officials, named or referenced in connection with Epstein’s criminal activities, civil settlements, immunity or plea agreements, or investigatory proceedings. (5) Entities (corporate, nonprofit, academic, or governmental) with known or alleged ties to Epstein’s trafficking or financial networks.
The release requirement covers agreements and sealed settlements involving Epstein or his associates, along with internal Justice Department communications about decisions to investigate or bring charges—or decline to do so.
(6) Any immunity deals, non-prosecution agreements, plea bargains, or sealed settlements involving Epstein or his associates. (7) Internal DOJ communications, including emails, memos, meeting notes, concerning decisions to charge, not charge, investigate, or decline to investigate Epstein or his associates.
Covered material includes records about destruction, alteration or concealment of Epstein-related evidence, and documentation of his detention or death, including autopsy reports.
(8) All communications, memoranda, directives, logs, or metadata concerning the destruction, deletion, alteration, misplacement, or concealment of documents, recordings, or electronic data related to Epstein, his associates, his detention and death, or any investigative files. (9) Documentation of Epstein’s detention or death, including incident reports, witness interviews, medical examiner files, autopsy reports, and written records detailing the circumstances and cause of death.
Embarrassment, reputational harm and political sensitivity cannot justify withholding, delaying or redacting records, including when officials, public figures or foreign dignitaries are affected.
No record shall be withheld, delayed, or redacted on the basis of embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity, including to any government official, public figure, or foreign dignitary.
The Attorney General may withhold or redact separable portions containing victims’ identifying information or qualifying private files, child sexual abuse material, or images of death, physical abuse or injury.
The Attorney general may withhold or redact the segregable portions of records that— (A) contain personally identifiable information of victims or victims’ personal and medical files and similar files the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy; (B) depict or contain child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) as defined under 18 U.S.C. 2256 and prohibited under 18 U.S.C. 2252–2252A;
(D) depict or contain images of death, physical abuse, or injury of any person;
Portions that would jeopardize an active federal investigation or ongoing prosecution may be withheld or redacted, but withholding must be narrowly tailored and temporary.
The Attorney general may withhold or redact the segregable portions of records that—
(C) would jeopardize an active federal investigation or ongoing prosecution, provided that such withholding is narrowly tailored and temporary;
Properly classified national-defense or foreign-policy information may be withheld or redacted. The Attorney General must declassify covered information to the maximum extent possible and release an unclassified summary for each withheld or redacted item determined unsuitable for safe declassification.
The Attorney general may withhold or redact the segregable portions of records that—
(E) contain information specifically authorized under criteria established by an Executive order to be kept secret in the interest of national defense or foreign policy and are in fact properly classified pursuant to such Executive order.
To the extent that any covered information would otherwise be redacted or withheld as classified information under this section, the Attorney General shall declassify that classified information to the maximum extent possible.
If the Attorney General makes a determination that covered information may not be declassified and made available in a manner that protects the national security of the United States, including methods or sources related to national security, the Attorney General shall release an unclassified summary for each of the redacted or withheld classified information.
Every redaction requires a written justification published in the Federal Register and submitted to Congress.
All redactions must be accompanied by a written justification published in the Federal Register and submitted to Congress.
Decisions to classify covered information after July 1, 2025, must be published in the Federal Register and submitted to Congress, including the classification date, classifying authority and an unclassified justification summary.
All decisions to classify any covered information after July 1, 2025 shall be published in the Federal Register and submitted to Congress, including the date of classification, the identity of the classifying authority, and an unclassified summary of the justification.
Within 15 days after completing the required release, the Attorney General must report to both Judiciary Committees on released and withheld record categories, redactions and their legal basis, and officials and politically exposed persons referenced in released materials. The list carries a no-redactions clause referring to subsection (b)(1).
Within 15 days of completion of the release required under Section 2, the Attorney General shall submit to the House and Senate Committees on the Judiciary a report listing: (1) All categories of records released and withheld. (2) A summary of redactions made, including legal basis. (3) A list of all government officials and politically exposed persons named or referenced in the released materials, with no redactions permitted under subsection (b)(1).
The official-actions snapshot updated July 18, 2026, records House passage by 427–1 on November 18, 2025, Senate passage without amendment by unanimous consent on November 19, and presidential signature and enactment as Public Law 119-38 that day.
Source snapshot updated 2026-07-18T00:01:51Z.
2025-11-18: 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)
2025-11-19: 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)
2025-11-19: Signed by President.
2025-11-19: Became Public Law No: 119-38.
A closer look
Reviewed version: Enrolled Bill. These findings describe provisions and who may benefit; they are not judgments of waste, corruption, or motive.
This review covers the supplied bill text. “None identified” does not rule out provisions in later versions or accompanying reports and disclosures.
Provisions outside the bill’s main subject, or policy changes attached to appropriations.
None identified in the reviewed text
No unrelated provision or policy change attached to appropriations was identified in the complete supplied enrolled text. This conclusion does not cover other versions or accompanying materials.
Spending directed to particular recipients or places outside ordinary competitive or formula-based allocation.
None identified in the reviewed text
No congressionally directed spending for particular recipients or places was identified in the complete supplied enrolled text. This conclusion does not establish absence in other versions or accompanying materials or resolve formal disclosure status.
Narrow exceptions, exemptions, or preferential treatment that warrant a closer look.
None identified in the reviewed text
No materially narrow preferential benefit was identified in the complete supplied enrolled text. Its disclosure safeguards concern privacy, sensitive content, investigations and national security within the main policy. This conclusion is limited to this version.
Full text preserved for this analysis. Legislative record snapshot: Jul 18, 2026. How PlainBill uses AI