The Billion-Dollar Game: How Congress Trade the Market It Governs

While Americans debated inflation, interest rates, and stock market swings, lawmakers on Capitol Hill were engaged in a trading spree of their own. Over the past three years, U.S. politicians and their families have disclosed up to $3 billion in financial transactions — numbers that would make even Wall Street veterans pause for a second. These trades weren’t buried inside passive retirement accounts. They were bold, high-frequency moves involving stocks, ETFs, and various financial assets, raising important questions about timing, influence, and access.

Over $3 Billion in Activity — and Counting

Over the last three years, members of Congress reported buying as much as $1.3 billion in assets and selling up to $1.7 billion. Even at the lowest reported estimates, the combined value exceeds $1.7 billion — translating to more than $2 million worth of trades every single day. When you zero in on stocks, the numbers remain just as shocking: nearly $1.1 billion in buys and sells were linked specifically to equity trades, excluding ETFs and funds.

This level of participation isn’t incidental. More than 34,000 individual transactions were filed during the period, spanning 2,000+ unique stocks and over 3,100 different issuers. This is widespread, ongoing market involvement from the very people charged with overseeing and regulating the economy.

The Stocks Politicians Love to Trade

Microsoft (MSFT:US) takes the crown as the most actively traded stock, with over $50 million in transaction value and a staggering 346 trades. Apple (APPL: US) follows with $38 million, then Nvidia (NVDA:US) with $36 million. Alphabet, Meta, Amazon, Visa, and UnitedHealth round out the most popular names — and these weren’t one-off purchases. Politicians actively traded these stocks, often switching between buy and sell positions over time.

The patterns are unmistakable. Microsoft, for example, saw 134 buys and 212 sells, suggesting short-term strategies, not long-term investing. Other favorites like Nvidia and Meta showed similar dynamics. The activity reveals a clear willingness among lawmakers to manage their portfolios with the kind of intensity usually reserved for fund managers — all while having a front-row seat to policymaking. While some trades by politicians are made through funds, a significant portion of their activity involves direct stock trades, indicating a hands-on approach to their investments.

The Bigger Question: Should They Be Allowed to Trade at All?

Both Democrats and Republicans are in the game, and while they may differ on stock preferences or industry focus, their appetite for trading is shared. The activity cuts across party lines, suggesting this isn’t about ideology — it’s about opportunity.

But opportunity for whom? That’s the part that gets complicated. With legislation capable of shifting entire industries, and lawmakers frequently briefed on non-public information, the line between legal trading and unfair advantage can become blurry.

With over $3 billion in trades, thousands of transactions, and deep exposure to America’s biggest companies, it’s clear that members of Congress aren’t just observing the market. They’re participating in it — actively, strategically, and at a massive scale.

The only thing more surprising than the numbers is how little scrutiny they still receive.