Bipartisan Push to Ban Congressional Stock Trading Gains Momentum
AOC and Chip Roy co-sponsor bill with 90% public support
The brief
Multiple bipartisan bills to ban members of Congress from trading individual stocks have advanced in 2025, with unusual cross-partisan support. The House's 'Restore Trust in Congress Act,' co-sponsored by progressives like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and conservatives like Rep. Chip Roy, would ban lawmakers, spouses, and dependent children from trading stocks. Polls show 90% public support for such a ban. While the current STOCK Act requires disclosure, critics say its $200 penalty is toothless.
In a rare display of bipartisan cooperation, lawmakers from across the political spectrum have united behind legislation to ban congressional stock trading in 2025.
The House's Restore Trust in Congress Act, introduced September 3, 2025, is co-sponsored by an unusual coalition: Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-RI), Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). The bill would ban members of Congress, their spouses, dependent children, and trustees from owning, purchasing, or selling individual stocks, requiring divestment or placement into qualified blind trusts.
In the Senate, Sen. Josh Hawley's (R-MO) Ban Congressional Stock Trading Act (S.1879) passed committee in July 2025 and would extend similar restrictions to the executive branch.
The push comes after years of frustration with the 2012 STOCK Act, which requires disclosure of trades over $1,000 within 30 days but imposes only a $200 fine for violations—what critics call "Band-Aids to a gaping, festering wound."
Public support is overwhelming: polls consistently show approximately 90% of Americans favor banning congressional stock trading. Both President Trump and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries have expressed support for a ban, though House Speaker Mike Johnson has not yet committed to a floor vote.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has publicly supported the ban, calling it essential for restoring trust in government.
Key facts
5 pointsCheck the reporting behind each point.
The Restore Trust in Congress Act was introduced September 3, 2025, co-sponsored by Representatives from both parties including AOC, Chip Roy, Pramila Jayapal, and Brian Fitzpatrick.
NPR5 more sources
CNNBipartisan group of House lawmakers introduce stock trading ban legislationRep. Jayapal Press ReleaseMagaziner, Roy, Jayapal Introduce New Bipartisan BillRep. Fitzpatrick Press ReleaseFitzpatrick Leads Historic Bipartisan EffortThe HillAOC and Chip Roy find common ground on stock tradingPoliticoBipartisan stock ban bill unveiledSenator Josh Hawley's Ban Congressional Stock Trading Act (S.1879) passed committee in July 2025.
Polls show approximately 90% public support for banning congressional stock trading.
Sources for this story 18 links
Links show the reporting used for this brief. Multiple links may report the same underlying account; they do not automatically mean independent confirmation.
Compare perspectives
See what each framing puts first, leaves out, and worries about.
What matters most in each reading?
Ending corruption that lets the powerful profit from public service
Progressive-leaning framing
- Members of Congress have access to non-public information that gives them an unfair advantage
- The current STOCK Act is virtually unenforceable with trivial penalties
- This is about basic accountability—public servants shouldn't profit from their positions
- 90% public support shows this isn't a partisan issue
- The bill would also cover spouses and children, closing a major loophole
Draining the swamp by ending self-dealing in Washington
Conservative-leaning framing
- Career politicians have been enriching themselves at taxpayer expense for too long
- This is about draining the swamp and restoring trust in government
- Even Trump and AOC agree—that should tell you something
- The Founders never intended for public service to be a path to wealth
- This closes a glaring loophole that lets the political class play by different rules
Illustrative editorial analysis, not a survey of news coverage. These readings do not represent everyone or imply that both arguments have equal evidence.
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