As the federal government approaches a shutdown, Democracy Defenders Action (DDA) today urged all members of Congress to suspend stock and securities trading for themselves and their families for the duration of any shutdown.

In a letter to senators and representatives, DDA emphasizes the need for lawmakers to prioritize resolving the funding impasse without distraction.

“During shutdowns, members of Congress must focus entirely on their legislative responsibilities,” said Virginia Canter, Chief Counsel and Director for Ethics and Anticorruption at DDA. “Stock trading during these periods raises concerns about conflicts of interest and erodes public trust.”

Recent bipartisan legislation, the Restore Trust in Congress Act (H.R. 5106), introduced by Reps. Chip Roy (R-Tex.) and Seth Magaziner (D-RI), proposed a comprehensive ban on securities trading by members of Congress. DDA calls on lawmakers to co-sponsor and pass the legislation promptly. Absent the legislation, lawmakers should voluntarily instruct their financial managers to halt all trade orders for themselves and their immediate family until the government reopens, the letter states.

“By taking this simple but powerful step, members of Congress can send a clear message: we are here to serve the American people, focused on ending the shutdown, and restoring faith in our government,” Canter said.

The letter can be found HERE.

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Democracy Defenders Action brings together a nonpartisan team to work with national, state and local allies across the country to defend in real-time the foundations of our democracy.