Congress moves to ban presidents from profiting off secret government information

What it does

This bill makes it a federal crime for the President or Vice President to sell or trade nonpublic government information for personal financial gain, and also criminalizes anyone else who buys, sells, or trades such information. Violators face fines up to double the transaction value, up to 5 years in prison, and forfeiture of all profits; the Attorney General can also sue civilly for disgorgement and penalties up to 3 times the gain. The Office of Government Ethics must refer suspected violations to the Attorney General.

Why we flagged it

The bill's core mechanism is a criminal and civil prohibition on the President and Vice President trading nonpublic information for profit, with enforcement by the Attorney General and mandatory referral by the Office of Government Ethics. This is fundamentally an anti-corruption and accountability measure targeting executive self-dealing.

What the text implies

• The 6-year statute of limitations is tolled (paused) while the covered person holds office, meaning prosecution can be delayed indefinitely if the President or Vice President remains in power, potentially creating a window for post-office liability.
• The bill applies to 'covered entities' in which the President or VP owns 5% or more—a broad net that captures investment portfolios, family trusts, and business interests, not just direct holdings.
• Joint and several liability for 'counterparties and entities' that knowingly provide value in such transactions means financial advisors, brokers, and intermediaries could face civil liability even if they did not originate the scheme.
• The civil enforcement standard is preponderance of the evidence (lower than criminal 'beyond reasonable doubt'), making civil disgorgement and penalties easier to obtain than criminal conviction.

Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.

Who it affects

This bill restricts the President and Vice President from profiting off confidential government information and blocks anyone from trading in such information—a direct accountability measure that protects citizens from executive self-dealing and insider trading at the public's expense. The broad civil and criminal enforcement mechanisms, combined with mandatory referral to the Attorney General, strengthen oversight of executive conduct.

Named in the bill

President, Vice President, Attorney General, Office of Government Ethics, Senate Committee on the Judiciary, House Committee on the Judiciary, 18 USC Chapter 11

Where it stands

6 cosponsors: 6 Democrats.

• Aug 6, 2026 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
• Aug 6, 2026 — Referred to House Committee on the Judiciary · Congress.gov: “Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.