Congressional Stock Trading Reaches Record High in 2025

A new analysis of congressional financial disclosures reveals that members of Congress traded over $1.2 billion worth of individual stocks in 2025, the highest volume since the STOCK Act was passed in 2012.

The data shows that members of both parties engaged in significant trading activity, including stocks in sectors directly affected by legislation they voted on.

Key findings include:

- 97 members of Congress traded individual stocks worth more than $1 million each - 15 senators traded stocks in defense companies while voting on military spending bills - 23 representatives traded healthcare stocks during negotiations on prescription drug pricing legislation - The average member who traded stocks made 34 trades per year

The STOCK Act requires members of Congress to disclose stock trades within 45 days, but enforcement has been minimal. Since 2021, over 70 members have been fined for late disclosure violations, with penalties ranging from $200 to $50,000.

Critics argue that the disclosure system is insufficient and that members should be required to place their assets in blind trusts or be prohibited from trading individual stocks entirely.

"When members of Congress can trade stocks in the industries they regulate, the public has no way to know if they're acting in the national interest or their own financial interest," said Craig Holman, a government ethics expert at Public Citizen.

Several bills have been introduced to ban congressional stock trading, but none have advanced to a vote despite bipartisan public support. A 2023 Pew Research poll found that 76% of Americans support a ban on congressional stock trading.

The practice affects both parties. Among the top 10 congressional stock traders in 2025, five were Democrats and five were Republicans.

This investigation is based on analysis of publicly available financial disclosure reports filed with the House Clerk and Senate Office of Public Records.