Chip Roy divides GOP with push to ban stock trading in Congress

A new push to ban members of Congress and federal officials from trading individual stocks is dividing Republicans, with Rep. Chip Roy of Texas emerging as one of the most vocal advocates. Roy, a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, has joined a bipartisan coalition pressing for a vote on legislation that would bar lawmakers, their spouses, and their children from trading shares in individual companies.

The debate has been fueled by years of ethically questionable trading activity in Washington. From biotech bets to chip industry stock sales, disclosures show that members of both parties have frequently made trades in sectors where they hold direct oversight. Capitol Trades data, which tracks congressional financial disclosures, has repeatedly flagged transactions that raise questions of conflicts of interest.

One notable case came in January of last year, when Rep. Michael McCaul’s family sold shares of Intel shortly before the company released a disappointing earnings forecast that sent its stock tumbling. At the time, McCaul was chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and co-chair of the Congressional Semiconductor Caucus. The trade earned tongue-in-cheek recognition for its “exceptional trading acumen,” based on Capitol Trades’ tracking.

Other Texas lawmakers have also drawn scrutiny. Rep. Julie Johnson and her husband bought and sold shares of Palantir Technologies around the time of a major Army contract announcement, netting significant gains. Rep. Brandon Gill disclosed buying between $1 million and $2.5 million worth of Bitcoin, just before legislation tied to cryptocurrency passed the House. Roy himself has disclosed at least $384,000 worth of trades in recent years, largely in the energy sector, according to Capitol Trades.

Despite rising bipartisan pressure and polling that shows more than 80% of Americans support a trading ban, GOP leadership has so far been hesitant. Speaker Mike Johnson has voiced support in principle but argued that limits on stock ownership could deter qualified candidates from running for office.

The legislative path remains uncertain. Roy says he intends to demand a vote this fall, while Senate proposals led by Sen. Josh Hawley face resistance from Republicans on the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee. Even former President Donald Trump has sent mixed signals, at times supporting and at other times opposing restrictions.

For now, the fight over congressional trading remains a flashpoint, with Capitol Trades data continuing to reveal just how common well-timed transactions have become on Capitol Hill.