Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) has officially reintroduced the “Preventing Elected Leaders from Owning Securities and Investments Act,” better known as the PELOSI Act, a bill designed to crack down on insider trading and conflicts of interest among members of Congress.
It is time! Pass my PELOSI Act now – no stock trading by members of Congress https://t.co/w1enBmv0BG
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) April 25, 2025
The PELOSI Act would prohibit lawmakers and their spouses from buying, selling, or holding individual stocks while in office. Under the legislation, members of Congress would be required to divest from individual stock holdings within 180 days of assuming office or place them into a qualified blind trust. Investments in diversified mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and U.S. Treasury bonds would still be permitted to allow for basic, non-conflicted financial security.
Violations of the law would carry real consequences: lawmakers who break the rules would be forced to forfeit any profits made from prohibited trades to the U.S. Treasury and could face additional fines imposed by congressional ethics committees.
The bill is pointedly named after former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, whose husband, Paul Pelosi, made headlines over high-profile stock trades that raised serious questions about whether lawmakers are profiting off inside information. Although Pelosi has repeatedly denied wrongdoing, the controversy sparked widespread public outrage and intensified calls for reform.
Former President Donald Trump has already signaled his support for the measure, making it clear that he would “absolutely” sign a bill banning congressional stock trading if it landed on his desk. Trump’s endorsement adds major momentum to Hawley’s effort and puts additional pressure on Congress to act.
Public support for banning stock trading by members of Congress remains overwhelming. Polls consistently show strong bipartisan agreement that elected officials should not be allowed to profit from industries they regulate or oversee. Critics argue that the current system creates an unacceptable conflict of interest that erodes public trust in government.
Hawley emphasized that the American people are tired of watching politicians enrich themselves while ignoring the interests of their constituents. “Washington should work for the people, not for the politicians’ personal stock portfolios,” Hawley said.
As the PELOSI Act gains renewed attention, it sets up a major political battle—and puts both parties on notice. With Trump’s backing and strong support from voters across the political spectrum, pressure is mounting for Congress to finally end the practice of lawmakers playing the stock market while writing the nation’s laws.