Momentum is accelerating on Capitol Hill behind a long-stalled push to ban lawmakers from trading individual stocks, as a group of House Republicans took the unusual and confrontational step of filing a discharge petition to force a floor vote. The maneuver reflects growing frustration with leadership and rising bipartisan impatience after years of stalled negotiations, despite overwhelming public support for stricter ethics rules. The renewed push introduces fresh tension within the GOP conference and underscores the political risk for Speaker Mike Johnson, who now faces rebellion from members of his own leadership team.

The petition, filed Tuesday by Republican Reps. Anna Paulina Luna and Tim Burchett, quickly gathered more than a dozen signatures, including ten Republicans. While far short of the 218 required to circumvent the Speaker and compel a vote, the early support signals a meaningful shift: key Republicans who had not previously backed the legislation — including Reps. Elise Stefanik, Gregory Steube, and Michael Lawler — are now publicly aligning with the effort.

A Bipartisan Coalition Converges on a Single Ethics Priority

The targeted bill, the Restore Trust in Congress Act, would prohibit members of Congress, their spouses, dependent children, and trustees from owning, buying, or selling individual stocks and certain other securities. With 104 co-sponsors — 82 Democrats and 22 Republicans — the legislation has drawn support from both progressive and conservative factions, creating one of the rare issues capable of bridging deep ideological divides.

Luna framed the petition as a direct challenge to congressional inertia, arguing that procedural stalling had left lawmakers with no choice but to force leadership’s hand. Her blunt comments — accusing the process of “BS on the back end” — highlight the extent of internal frustration after years of committees slow-walking reforms.

Supporters argue that prohibiting stock ownership is essential to restoring public trust, following persistent controversies involving members who traded securities in sectors they oversaw. The proposal reflects a broader anti-corruption sentiment among voters, who overwhelmingly favor restrictions on congressional financial activity.

Pressure Mounts on Johnson as Internal Divisions Broaden

Speaker Mike Johnson has said he supports “the idea” of improving ethics rules but stopped short of endorsing an outright ban. Speaking this week, he argued that lawmakers should at least retain the ability to own stock, signaling discomfort with the full scope of the bill. He also expressed displeasure with the discharge petition route, which bypasses leadership and strips the Speaker of procedural control.

The push adds to Johnson’s political vulnerabilities. Senior GOP figures, including Stefanik — a close ally of former President Donald Trump and a member of House Republican leadership — have openly broken with him on multiple issues this week. Her suggestion that Johnson may not retain the speakership if a new election were held underscores the stakes.

Stefanik offered an unusually sharp rebuke in her statement supporting the petition, calling it a “commonsense, good governance” effort to address the “corrosive decay of a Congress that is failing the American people.” Her support signals that pressure on Johnson is coming not only from the party’s fringes but from the top tiers of its leadership.

Looking Ahead: Will the Petition Succeed or Reshape Leadership Dynamics?

While securing 218 signatures remains a formidable challenge, the petition has injected new urgency into a debate long mired in procedural limbo. Even if the measure does not reach the floor, the effort may force leadership to revisit ethics negotiations or risk deepening intra-party fractures. The coming weeks will reveal whether the coalition pushing the ban can maintain momentum—and whether growing public scrutiny will pressure Congress to act before the 2026 election cycle intensifies.