Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) is reigniting the fight to ban members of Congress and their spouses from trading individual stocks while in office, reintroducing legislation Monday that has captured growing bipartisan support — and a firm endorsement from President Donald Trump himself.
Dubbed the PELOSI Act, Hawley’s bill — first introduced in 2023 — is a direct shot at the glaring conflicts of interest that have plagued Washington’s political class for decades.
The legislation, named after former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, reflects the public’s increasing frustration with lawmakers seemingly profiting off insider knowledge while the American people foot the bill.
“Members of Congress should be fighting for the people they were elected to serve—not day trading at the expense of their constituents,” Hawley said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
He added, “Americans have seen politician after politician turn a profit using information not available to the general public. It’s time we ban all members of Congress from trading and holding stocks and restore Americans’ trust in our nation’s legislative body.”
The proposed ban would prevent lawmakers and their spouses from holding, buying, or selling individual stocks while serving in office. Investments in diversified mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and U.S. Treasury bonds would still be allowed, offering members a responsible and transparent way to manage their personal finances without triggering conflicts of interest.
Importantly, Hawley’s bill sets strict deadlines for compliance. Current members would have 180 days to divest or restructure their investments, while newly elected officials would face the same six-month window upon taking office.
Violators would be required to surrender any profits to the U.S. Treasury and could also face fines amounting to 10% of the value of each wrongful transaction, as determined by House or Senate ethics committees.
The momentum behind the idea is undeniable. In a recent interview with Time Magazine, President Trump gave the proposal his unequivocal support. “I watched Nancy Pelosi get rich through insider information, and I would be okay with it,” Trump said. When pressed if he would sign the bill into law, he didn’t hesitate: “Absolutely.”
