WASHINGTON–Members of Congress traded more than half a billion dollars’ worth of stocks last year, prompting bipartisan calls for stricter oversight and even an outright ban on congressional stock trading.
Among those pushing for reform is Rep. Johnny Olszewski, a Democrat who represents Maryland’s 2nd congressional district. Olszewski has repeatedly voiced support for a ban and, most recently, posted on X on the subject.
“Easy solution: ban stock trading by members of Congress entirely,” Olszewski said.
Members of Congress “should not be able to make or direct investments while they serve,” Olszewski added in a written statement to Capital News Service.
Common Cause, a Washington-based nonprofit watchdog organization, estimates that members of Congress executed more than $635 million in stock trades in 2025. Stock trading is generally bipartisan, and according to the group’s analysis, the highest trading volumes come from Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas).
Public concern over the issue appears widespread. A 2023 study from the University of Maryland School of Public Policy found that 86% of Americans support a ban.
The TRUST in Congress Act, cosponsored by Olszewski, would require members of Congress and some family members to place certain financial assets in blind trusts. According to Investopedia, “A blind trust is a trust in which the trustor gives full control of assets to the trustee, who manages them without the trustor’s knowledge.” They are often used to avoid conflicts of interest.
His office said the proposal is rooted in transparency, adding that lawmakers should focus on serving constituents rather than managing investment portfolios that could present conflicts of interest.
At the same time, his office said he would be open to stronger measures, including requiring members to fully divest from individual stock holdings if doing so would strengthen public confidence.
Still, questions about lawmakers’ own financial activity continue to draw scrutiny. According to personal financial disclosure reports, Olszewski holds stocks himself, including DraftKings and General Electric Aerospace. His office said those investments were made before he took office and that he “does not actively trade individual stocks” while serving in Congress.
While support for reform has drawn attention from both parties, it remains unclear whether the TRUST in Congress Act or similar legislation will advance. The bill, introduced in January 2025, has not moved forward in Congress.