House Speaker Johnson Backs Congressional Stock Trade Ban—Because Nothing Says ’Public Service’ Like Not Front-Running the Market
Washington’s latest attempt at ethics reform lands with a thud—this time targeting lawmakers’ favorite side hustle: playing hedge fund with insider knowledge.
Johnson throws weight behind bill to ban stock trading by Congress. Finally, a bipartisan issue—if you ignore the 20-year delay and countless suspicious trades that made millionaires along the way.
Will it pass? Watch the ’no’ votes reveal who’s been treating classified briefings as investment tips.
House Speaker Mike Johnson supports ban on stock trading by members of Congress.
— Watcher.Guru (@WatcherGuru) May 14, 2025
“You want me to tell you my honest opinion on that? I’m in favor of that, because I don’t think we should have any appearance of impropriety here,” he said at a Wednesday news conference. He added that members’ ability to trade had been “abused in the past, and I think sadly, a few bad actors discolor it for everyone.”
Previous efforts to ban lawmaker stock trading haven’t been successful, but the subject is still heavily debated. For years, congressional stock trading has been an activity that has concerned the general public. With so much potential for insider trading, there has long been bipartisan support for its restriction. However, legislation has never been able to pass through both chambers.
Last month, US President Donald TRUMP confirmed he would sign a bill that would effectively ban stock trading by Congress. “Well, I watched Nancy Pelosi get rich through insider information, and I would be okay with it. If they send that to me, I would do it,” Trump said in an April interview. When asked if he would sign the bill, Trump responded with a succinct “absolutely.”
The Preventing Elected Leaders from Owning Securities and Investments Act bears the name of Nancy Pelosi and was reintroduced in April. Indeed, she is one of the strongest examples of elected officials amassing wealth through the US stock market. With support from Mike Johnson, there could be a newly ignited fuel behind the bill that could garner support in the House after years of debate.
