Hawley Reintroduces 'PELOSI Act' to Ban Lawmakers from Trading Stocks, Gains Trump’s Support
On April 28, 2025, Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) reintroduced the Preventing Elected Leaders from Owning Securities and Investments (PELOSI) Act, aiming to prohibit members of Congress and their spouses from trading individual stocks while in office. Hawley stressed that lawmakers should focus on serving their constituents, not personal financial gain, stating, “Congress should be here to serve the people, not to make a buck.”
The bill bans buying, selling, or holding stocks during a lawmaker’s tenure, though mutual funds and Treasury bonds remain allowed. Lawmakers would have 180 days to divest existing holdings, and violators must forfeit profits and face fines.
The legislation has gained bipartisan momentum and was recently endorsed by former President Donald Trump, who said he would “absolutely” sign it if passed. Trump criticized former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, citing her family’s stock trades as a reason for the ban.
This renewed push reflects growing public demand for transparency and to eliminate conflicts of interest in Congress.
