Epstein files update: Trump’s DOJ faces new watchdog audit

The U.S. Department of Justice is facing an audit of its compliance with a law passed by Congress requiring it to release the Epstein files.

“We already know the Department of Justice failed to comply with the disclosure requirements of the Epstein Files Transparency Act under former Attorney General Bondi and they continue to withhold required documents under Acting Attorney General Blanche,” Republican Representative Thomas Massie told Newsweek in a statement.

In an announcement on Thursday, the DOJ’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) said it was initiating an audit to determine whether the Trump administration had complied with the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

The bill was passed in the fall, after the DOJ and FBI said no further documents would be released related to investigations into Jeffrey Epstein, the late financier accused of running a sex trafficking operation. Former Attorney General Pam Bondi was accused of avoiding transparency, with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle pushing for legislation mandating that Bondi make the files available.

Newsweek reached out to the DOJ for comment via email on Thursday.

What Will the OIG Audit?

The OIG said it would look into how the department honored that legislation, which set out parameters for the files’ release.

According to the OIG’s announcement, its audit will be threefold, reviewing how the department identified, collected, and produced the material, what the DOJ’s guidance and processes were for redacting and withholding information as required by the act passed by Congress, and what the DOJ’s processes were for tackling post-release concerns.

If other issues arise, the OIG said it would consider addressing these, too.

The DOJ has released millions of pages of Epstein-related records; however, its handling of the disclosures has drawn significant criticism, given delays, heavy redactions and the failure to protect victims’ identities in certain instances.

What is the Epstein Files Transparency Act?

Led by Republican Thomas Massie and Democrat Ro Khanna, the Epstein Files Transparency Act was born out of the frustration felt by lawmakers and the public, following the DOJ and FBI’s decision not to release more documents on the investigation into Epstein last summer.

The bill set out requirements for Bondi to release all documents available, with conditions around keeping victims’ identities safe.

The DOJ missed the initial deadline of December 19, 2025, with the majority of documents arriving in the following few weeks. Some lawmakers criticized the DOJ for how it had handled the release, saying documents were missing or too heavily redacted.

Massie said that in some cases, Blanche was falsely asserting deliberative privilege to “shield certain required documents” despite such claims being invalidated by the act’s language. Other files were pulled from public viewing, and some survivors had been unable to view the FBI’s summaries of their cases, Massie said.

“Finally, many of the documents DOJ allows Members of Congress to view remain redacted because they were received with redactions imposed by the FBI and US Attorneys, and Blanche has, as far as we can tell, neither requested nor obtained the original versions as required by EFTA,” Massie said. 

What Happens Next

The OIG said it would release its report once its audit is complete.

Lawmakers are also set to hear from more of Epstein’s alleged victims, after a push by First Lady Melania Trump.