Pittsburgh, Pa. − March 11, 2026 − Senator Lindsey M. Williams (D-Allegheny) announced today that she will introduce a resolution urging Congress to prohibit insider stock trading and betting in prediction markets for federal public officials.
“For people to trust their elected officials, they have to know that we are all playing by the same rules,” said Senator Williams. “But while insider trading is illegal for the rest of the country, there is no enforceable ban on Congress and other top officials from using their insider knowledge to cash in.”
So-called “prediction markets” like Polymarket and Kalshi allow individuals to bet on timing and details of world events. In recent months, sizable wagers have been placed by new user accounts on the ouster of Venezuelan President Nicholás Maduro and on the timing of air strikes in Iran. These types of bets have drawn suspicion that government officials are using insider knowledge of war plans to place bets on people’s lives.
Banning Members of Congress from trading stocks is an incredibly popular, bi-partisan policy, with a 2025 study showing that more than 86% of the voting public supporting such a ban. A study in 2023 showed similar results. While several bills have been introduced at the federal level to prohibit the practice, none have been enacted.
“People deserve to know that their elected officials are making decisions based on what is best for their constituents, not what is best for their personal bottom line,” said Senator Williams. “By encouraging Congress to do the right thing and enact an enforceable ban on insider stock trading and prediction market betting, we can start to restore some of the trust that has been eroded in our government officials.”
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