Stop Politicians Profiting from War Act of 2025

This bill, called the Stop Politicians Profiting from War Act of 2025, would ban Members of Congress, their spouses, and their dependent children from owning or trading investments tied to companies that have contracts with the Department of Defense, including stocks, bonds, commodities, options, and complex funds like hedge funds and venture capital funds . Current and new Members would have to sell these holdings within 120 days (180 days for private funds). Assets received while in office, like an inheritance, must also be sold within 120 days. Putting these assets in a blind trust would not count as following the rules.

There are limited exceptions, such as widely held, diversified funds that don’t focus on defense companies, U.S. Treasury bonds, government retirement plan funds, certain Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act shares, and diversified registered investment funds. A spouse or child can trade such assets for their job if the family doesn’t own them. Violations could bring civil fines up to $50,000 per violation. The bill also lets required sales qualify for tax relief (so gains can be deferred with a certificate of divestiture), and it directs House and Senate ethics committees to issue guidance on terms not defined in the bill .

Key points

• Who is affected: Members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children.
• What changes: No owning or trading investments tied to Pentagon contractors; sell within 120 days (180 days for private funds); blind trusts don’t satisfy the rule; narrow exceptions for diversified funds and certain other holdings; fines up to $50,000 per violation; tax relief available for required sales with a certificate of divestiture .
• When: Deadlines apply after enactment or after someone becomes a Member; the tax changes apply to sales made after enactment .