1. United States
2. Mass.
3. Letter

The continued practice of stock trading by members of Congress represents a blatant conflict of interest that fundamentally undermines their role as public servants working for the greater good of the nation. Recent accusations leveled against President Trump over potential insider trading and market manipulation related to his tariffs pause underscore the severity of this ethical breach. The timing of Trump's social media posts signaling a tariff reversal, just hours before officially announcing it, raises legal and ethical concerns about whether he or others with prior knowledge engaged in illegal financial transactions to profit off the subsequent market surge. This illustrates how access to confidential information can be exploited for personal gain, perpetuating a system rigged in favor of the wealthy and connected while eroding public trust. Congress must take immediate action to ban stock trading by its members and their spouses to restore credibility and impartial decision-making in the national interest. Strengthening disclosure rules and blind trusts are inadequate - only an outright prohibition can uphold the highest ethical standards Americans deserve from their elected representatives.