A bipartisan group in the House of Representatives is looking to bar lawmakers from trading individual stocks as part of an effort to increase accountability in Congress. The push comes amid renewed scrutiny of potential conflicts of interest on Capitol Hill, according to reporting by NPR.
In an effort to strengthen public confidence in Congress, a bipartisan coalition in the House is considering legislation that would prohibit members of Congress from trading individual stocks.
According to NPR congressional editor Deirdre Walsh, the lawmakers involved want to curb potential conflicts of interest by limiting members’ ability to buy and sell single-company shares while they are in office. The proposal is described as part of broader efforts to increase accountability and transparency in how elected officials manage their personal finances.
Supporters argue that tighter rules on stock trading would help address longstanding criticism that lawmakers’ personal financial interests could appear to shape, or benefit from, their work on legislation and oversight. By focusing the discussion on individual stocks, backers say they aim to reduce the perception of impropriety and restore some public trust in government operations.
Walsh’s report notes that the measure is still in the discussion phase, and key details of any eventual bill — including the exact scope of the trading restrictions and how they would be enforced — have yet to be finalized. NPR also reports that the timeline for when the House might consider or vote on such legislation remains unclear.
