A bipartisan bill threatens to halt congressional stock trading, raising questions about political accountability.
Story Snapshot
- Rep. Anna Paulina Luna pushes for a vote on banning stock trading by Congress members.
- The Restore Trust in Congress Act faces both support and opposition from diverse political groups.
- The bill aims to curb potential misuse of insider information by lawmakers.
- Critics demand stronger reforms beyond the current STOCK Act’s limitations.
Luna’s Bold Move to Bypass Leadership
On December 2, 2025, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, a Republican from Florida, initiated a discharge petition to enforce a vote on the bipartisan Restore Trust in Congress Act.
This bill seeks to ban Congress members, along with their spouses and dependents, from trading individual stocks.
This maneuver is a strategic attempt to sidestep House leadership and bring the issue directly to the floor, requiring 218 signatures to proceed.
The legislative push had been delayed by a 43-day government shutdown starting October 1, 2025.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, another Republican, played a key role in the delay by keeping the House out of session, halting committee hearings and legislative progress. Despite this, Luna’s determination reflects a growing demand for accountability among lawmakers.
It is done. I just filed a discharge petition to force a vote to ban stock trading in Congress.
Both Republican @SpeakerJohnson and @RepJeffries have acknowledged that insider trading in Congress is a serious problem and must be stopped, and have signaled support to stop the… pic.twitter.com/FFMx8WSVDd
— Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (@RepLuna) December 2, 2025
Bipartisan Support and Opposition
The Restore Trust in Congress Act has garnered support from over 100 members across the political spectrum, including progressives, conservatives, and moderates.
Introduced by Republican Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, the bill aims to prevent the misuse of nonpublic information for personal gain. However, it faces bipartisan resistance, with some members lobbying against its passage due to vested interests.
Democrat Rep. Seth Magaziner highlighted the internal opposition, stating that some leaders are actively trying to prevent the bill’s advancement. These tensions underscore the challenge of enacting significant reforms in a politically divided Congress.
Calls for Greater Transparency
Under the existing STOCK Act, Congress members and federal officials must disclose stock trades over $1,000 within 45 days. Critics argue this law lacks sufficient transparency and enforcement, allowing potential conflicts of interest to persist.
Despite the STOCK Act, no member of Congress has faced prosecution or fines for disclosure violations, raising concerns about the effectiveness of current regulations.
Dan Savickas from the Taxpayers Protection Alliance pointed out that both political parties tend to outperform the market, particularly when they hold more governmental power.
This trend fuels public skepticism about the integrity of congressional practices, emphasizing the need for stricter regulations to ensure lawmakers serve the public interest.
