Overview

• The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee advanced the HONEST Act in an 8-7 vote, with Sen. Josh Hawley as the only Republican ally to back the proposal alongside all Democrats.
• Under the bill, members of Congress would be barred from buying, selling or holding individual stocks and the restriction would extend to the president and vice president at the start of their next terms.
• By limiting the executive-branch ban to future terms, the legislation exempts President Trump and drew objections from GOP senators like Rick Scott, who said it unfairly targets wealthy officeholders.
• President Trump initially called Hawley a “second-tier senator” on Truth Social but later held a phone conversation confirming his conceptual support and clarifying that his existing assets would not be affected.
• Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi endorsed the HONEST Act as a step toward restoring public trust, and the bill now heads to the Senate floor where its fate in the GOP-led chamber remains uncertain.