REDACT Act
Sponsored By: Representative Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7]
Introduced
Summary
Creates a private civil remedy allowing victims to sue the United States for improper disclosure of personally identifiable information in Epstein Files releases. The bill is titled the Recovery, Enforcement, and Damages to Assure Confidential Treatment Act or REDACT Act.
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- Victims and survivors can bring a lawsuit against the United States when personal or medical files are released with unredacted PII. Plaintiffs may recover the greater of statutory damages of $50,000 per instance or compensatory damages, plus reasonable attorney fees and costs.
- Federal officers, employees, agents, and agencies can be sued because the United States waives sovereign immunity for these claims. Courts may issue injunctive or declaratory relief and can grant preliminary injunctions to stop further disclosure.
- Legal timing and scope are defined. A suit must start within five years after actual notice or within five years after enactment for earlier notices, and the remedy covers violations occurring on or after November 19, 2025.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Right to sue for privacy breaches
This bill would let a person sue the United States if a federal officer, employee, or agent releases their personally identifiable information or similar personal or medical files under the Epstein Files Transparency Act without proper redaction. For each separate disclosure (each "instance"), a winning plaintiff would get the greater of $50,000 or the compensatory damages for that instance, plus reasonable attorney fees and litigation costs, and any appropriate injunctive or declaratory relief. Courts could grant preliminary injunctive relief. The United States would waive sovereign immunity for these suits. A civil action would have to start within five years after the person first gets actual notice of the violation (or within five years after enactment if notice happened before enactment). This rule would apply to violations on or after November 19, 2025.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7]
WA • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Mace, Nancy [R-SC-1]
SC • R
Sponsored 7/27/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov