US Congress members may soon be barred from buying and selling stocks and other securities. Under the current Federal laws, Congress members are allowed to invest in US stocks. In 2025, members of Congress executed more than 13,000 stock trades totaling over $635 million. More than 200 members of the U.S. House and over half of the U.S. Senate currently own stocks.
There is widespread concern regarding Members of Congress potentially engaging in insider trading for personal gain, with public opinion polls indicating strong bipartisan support for prohibiting stock trading by Congress members.
Several lawmakers have introduced bills to put an end to this practise or bring in greater transparency in the buy-sell mechanism.
Bill to Curb Insider Trading
Governor Ron DeSantis announced a new legislative proposal aimed at curbing Congressional insider trading by increasing transparency and accountability around Congressional stock trading. The Governor also voiced support for Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna’s legislation to stop congressional insider trading.
“We are sick of seeing members of Congress with no prior investment acumen all of a sudden turn into Warren Buffett on steroids and put major hedge funds to shame. Something is rotten in the state of Denmark!, “said Governor Ron DeSantis in his statement.
This proposal would establish a new election procedure requiring all candidates for federal office, regardless of party affiliation, to disclose, at the time of qualifying:
- Whether they intend to trade stocks if elected, and
- Whether they traded stocks while previously serving in federal office.
This disclosure would give voters clear, upfront information before Election Day and ensure candidates are held accountable for the promises they make on the campaign trail.
End Congressional Stock Trading Act
U.S. Representative Anna Paulina Luna in August 2025 had announced the introduction of the End Congressional Stock Trading Act, a landmark reform bill that will ban Members of Congress and their spouses and dependent children from trading or owning individual stocks, bonds, commodities, or complex investment vehicles.
The bill aims to tackle the escalating issues of insider conflicts and reinstates Congress’s ability to maintain public trust by preventing politicians from making money from non-public information.
PELOSI Act
U.S. Senator Josh Hawley had also reintroduced the Preventing Elected Leaders from Owning Securities and Investments (PELOSI) Act, which would ban members of Congress from trading or holding individual stocks.
The PELOSI Act aims to ban lawmakers and their spouses from holding, purchasing or selling individual stocks for the duration of the lawmaker’s time in office. Lawmakers would be allowed to invest in diversified mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, or U.S. Treasury bonds while in office.