Dear John,
It’s rare to find an issue that unites the Progressive Caucus, the Freedom Caucus, and the Problem Solvers Caucus. But one outrage crosses all ideological lines: members of Congress using inside knowledge to enrich themselves through stock trading.
It’s corruption, plain and simple. It worsens inequality, and it’s fueling Americans’ growing distrust in government.
We saw it clearly this year. After Trump announced sweeping tariffs, the stock market plunged – then quickly bounced back when he reversed course. Anyone who knew the pause was coming had a golden opportunity to buy low and profit. That week, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene reportedly bought over $300,000 in stocks from companies like Amazon, Apple, and NVIDIA. The timing speaks for itself.
But this malfeasance isn’t limited to one side of the aisle. Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi has long faced scrutiny for her remarkably well-timed stock trades.
Now, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who owns no individual stocks, is calling out the corruption on both sides. She’s teamed up with Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick to introduce the Bipartisan Restoring Faith in Government Act, which would ban members of Congress and their families from trading individual stocks while in office.
Send a direct message to your members of Congress: Pass the Bipartisan Restoring Faith in Government Act. Ban congressional stock trading and start rebuilding trust in our democracy now.
When lawmakers buy and sell individual stocks in industries they oversee, it’s not just a conflict of interest – it’s a betrayal of public trust. They’re using privileged access to confidential briefings and market-moving information to pad their own portfolios, while millions of Americans struggle to get by.
Public service should not be a shortcut to personal fortune. Americans overwhelmingly agree: over 85% of voters – including 87% of Republicans, 88% of Democrats, and 81% of Independents – support banning congressional stock trading. Even President Trump has said he would “absolutely” sign such a bill.
This is about more than policy. It’s about trust, fairness, and restoring integrity to a system that too often actually is rigged. As long as lawmakers are allowed to profit from insider knowledge, the perception – and reality – of corruption will persist.
Tell Congress: Pass the Bipartisan Restoring Faith in Government Act and stop the inequality of insider stock trading that is corrupting our representative government now.
Thank you for doing your part to make public office about serving the public – not serving a stock portfolio.
Robert Reich
Inequality Media Civic Action
