Trump Vows End to Congress Trading

- The Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act of 2012 currently requires members of Congress to publicly disclose stock, bond, and commodity futures transactions over $1,000 within 45 days. However, enforcement is widely considered weak, with the standard penalty for a first-time violation being only $200. - A 2025 analysis of financial disclosures found that about 48% of Congress members own individual stocks. That same year, 140 members of Congress made over 14,450 trades totaling approximately $720 million in value. - Multiple analyses suggest that the investment portfolios of federal lawmakers frequently outperform the market. In 2025, about one-third of the 311 members with disclosed portfolios beat the S&P 500's performance. One analysis of a "Congress Buy Strategy," which mimics trades made by lawmakers, showed a 400% return since April 2020, compared to the S&P 500's 150% return over the same period. - Public scrutiny of the issue intensified after dozens of lawmakers from both parties made stock transactions totaling over $150 million at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, buying shares in companies positioned to benefit from the crisis while selling those in hard-hit industries like hospitality. - There is broad public support for a ban, with one poll showing 86% of Americans in favor, including 88% of Democrats and 87% of Republicans. - Several bipartisan bills have been recently introduced to curb the practice. The "Restore Trust in Congress Act," co-sponsored by Rhode Island Rep. Seth Magaziner (D) and Texas Rep. Chip Roy (R), would prohibit members, their spouses, and dependents from owning or trading individual stocks and other similar assets. - Other proposed solutions include requiring members to place their holdings in a qualified blind trust, where an independent trustee manages the assets without the lawmaker's knowledge. Some legislative proposals would also extend the ban to the President, Vice President, and their families.