Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is calling for a nationwide ban on congressional stock trading, saying the practice has severely damaged public trust in Washington and must come to an end. In remarks that quickly drew attention on Capitol Hill, Bessent said the issue is not partisan and warned that extraordinary investment returns by senior lawmakers raise serious credibility concerns for Congress as an institution.
Bessent specifically pointed to the unusually high capital gains reported by some members of congressional leadership, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, arguing that returns outperforming many of the world’s top hedge funds create the appearance of insider advantage. He said this perception alone is enough to undermine confidence in government, regardless of party affiliation.
“This is not a partisan issue,” Bessent said. “When members of congressional leadership post returns that far exceed many of the world’s top-performing hedge funds, it undermines the fundamental credibility of Congress itself.”
The Treasury secretary said the American public deserves stronger ethical standards from elected officials and urged Congress to act decisively to prohibit lawmakers from trading individual stocks while in office. He added that restoring trust requires clear rules that apply equally to everyone in power.
The push aligns with President Donald Trump’s broader message on confronting corruption and entrenched political privilege in Washington. Trump allies have long argued that banning congressional stock trading is a necessary reform to prevent conflicts of interest and to show voters that lawmakers are held to the same standards as the people they represent.
