Key Takeaways
- Historic Transparency Move: President Trump signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, directing the DOJ to release all unclassified Epstein-related documents in a public, searchable format.
- Massive Bipartisan Vote: The bill passed the House 427 to 1 and cleared the Senate unanimously after Trump reversed his earlier opposition and urged Republicans to support it.
- Redactions to Protect Victims: The law allows the DOJ to redact victims’ identities and temporarily withhold information tied to active investigations, ensuring protections without blocking transparency.
President Trump has officially signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act into law, ordering the Department of Justice to pull back the curtain on every unclassified document tied to Jeffrey Epstein. For a scandal that has hovered over Washington for years, this marks the first real step toward full transparency and accountability. And yes, it’s a major reversal for the president, who until just days ago had pushed back against releasing the files.
But after a weekend of intense pressure, Trump made his position clear in a Truth Social post, urging House Republicans to pass the bill and declaring it was time to “move on” from the political tug-of-war. The GOP fell in line, joining Democrats in a rare show of unity. The final vote: 427 to 1, with Rep. Clay Higgins standing alone in opposition. Hours later, the Senate passed the bill unanimously, sending it straight to the Resolute Desk.
Now the ball is in Attorney General Pam Bondi’s court. She has 30 days to make public a massive trove of unclassified documents, communications, and investigative materials from the DOJ, FBI, and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices. And she must do it in a searchable, downloadable format that Americans can comb through for themselves.
The biggest uncertainty is how much the public will actually see. The legislation allows redactions to protect victims’ identities and personal information. It also gives the DOJ limited authority to withhold material tied to ongoing investigations, though those redactions must be narrow and temporary.
Still, the law promises unprecedented transparency. For years, both parties have talked about exposing the truth. Now President Trump has put the federal government on the clock to finally do it.