Prepare for increased discussions surrounding the prohibition of stock trading by Congress members. A senior official from the Trump administration is set to advocate for a ban, while two House Republicans are preparing to initiate a vote on the matter. Meanwhile, lawmakers continue to neglect timely reporting of significant stock transactions.
“We need to act,” said Republican Rep. Chip Roy from Texas during a recent Fox Business interview. He expressed that although he had previously allowed House GOP leadership some leniency while they navigated the passage of the “Big Beautiful Bill”, that patience has worn thin. “I will insist we vote on this in the fall.”
This momentum follows an intense Senate hearing regarding a stock trading bill, where Republicans debated whether President Donald Trump should also be included in the trading ban.
In response, Trump labeled Sen. Josh Hawley as “second-tier,” although Hawley later managed to mend fences with him. “He indicated to me that he supports a ban on stock trading,” Hawley said in July. “He is committed to advancing a stock trading prohibition, and we will collaborate towards that goal.”
Upcoming House Tensions Over a ‘Discharge Petition’
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, a Florida Republican known for opposing her own party’s leadership, plans to initiate a vote on the stock trading ban upon lawmakers’ return from the August recess.
“I cannot stand by while Congress members engage in stock trading, especially those with direct influence on specific industries,” Luna stated on X last month. “That is fundamentally corrupt and must cease.”
Frequent Late Reporting of Stock Trades
Johnson has expressed his support for a stock trading ban, although he has some sympathy for opposing views. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has increasingly backed the initiative this year, following reports of strategically timed trades by certain lawmakers.
This week, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent joined the call, announcing his intention to advocate for a ban on individual stock trades by lawmakers. “I don’t believe we have achieved the perfect proposal yet,” Bessent noted to Bloomberg. “However, I will start campaigning for a ban on stock trading.”
Numerous lawmakers have recently faced violations of the STOCK Act, disclosing stock trades worth millions significantly after the mandated 30-45 day reporting period. Rep. Lisa McClain of Michigan failed to timely report over 500 trades totaling approximately $1.5 million. Meanwhile, other lawmakers cited misunderstandings with third-party financial managers as reasons for their delays.
