Florida Governor Ron DeSantis made a proposal to ban congressional insider stock trading.
Governor Ron DeSantis recently announced a new legislative proposal aimed at draining the swamp, restoring public trust in Congress, and curbing congressional insider trading by increasing transparency and accountability around congressional stock trading.
“Congress should pass Congresswoman Luna’s legislation to stop congressional insider trading, and all members of the Florida delegation should support it,” said Republican Governor Ron DeSantis. “In the meantime, I am happy to support state-level reforms that will bring transparency to what has become a national farce. We are sick of seeing members of Congress with no prior investment acumen all of a sudden turn into Warren Buffet on steroids and put major hedge funds to shame. Something is rotten in the state of Denmark!”
Supreme Court precedent makes clear that states may regulate election procedures to protect transparency and the integrity of the ballot. Building on that authority, Florida’s proposal would establish a new election procedure requiring all candidates for federal office, regardless of party affiliation, to disclose, at the time of qualifying:
- Whether they intend to trade stocks if elected, and
- Whether they traded stocks while previously serving in federal office.
This disclosure would give voters clear, upfront information before Election Day and ensure candidates are held accountable for the promises they make on the campaign trail.
The Florida Governor also voiced support for Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna’s legislation to stop congressional insider trading.
“I appreciate Governor DeSantis for endorsing our bipartisan initiative to ban congressional stock trading and for his efforts to enact these policies at the state level,” said Rep. Anna Paulina Luna. “This is about standing up for transparency and accountability in government. Members of Congress should not be allowed to trade individual stocks while serving in office. The American people deserve to know their representatives are working for them—not for personal financial gain.”
Under current federal law, members of Congress are permitted to trade stocks while serving in office—even as they regulate industries, receive non-public information, and influence market-moving decisions. There is no federal prohibition preventing this conduct, nor does a violation of insider trading laws automatically bar a candidate from appearing on the ballot.
In 2025 alone, members of Congress executed more than 13,000 stock trades totaling over $635 million. More than 200 members of the U.S. House and over half of the U.S. Senate currently own stock. Even in the absence of proven wrongdoing, the opportunity for self-enrichment undermines public confidence and erodes trust in government.
Public support for reform is overwhelming. More than 86 percent of Americans across party lines support banning or restricting congressional stock trading. Yet despite bipartisan momentum, Congress has failed to act. Over 25 percent of the U.S. House has signaled support for reform legislation, but not a single committee hearing has been held.
Bipartisan efforts such as the Restore Trust in Congress Act (H.R. 5106), which has over 100 cosponsors, remain stalled. Recently, Florida Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna filed a bipartisan discharge petition to force an up-or-down vote on legislation addressing congressional stock trading, an effort that reflects Florida’s commitment to overcome Washington’s inaction.
Governor DeSantis said that Florida has a long history of leading on transparency and accountability, and this proposal continues that tradition. By empowering voters with more information during the election process, the Republican Governor said Florida aims to set a national example and encourage meaningful reform across the country.
