# 119-hr-1599: Dismantling Investments in Violation of Ethical Standards through Trusts Act

119-hr-1599, Dismantling Investments in Violation of Ethical Standards through Trusts Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Cloud, Michael [R-TX-27] (R-TX); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-04-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1599
- As of: 2026-04-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-1599
- Congress: 119
- Title: Dismantling Investments in Violation of Ethical Standards through Trusts Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-02-26
- Sponsor: Rep. Cloud, Michael [R-TX-27] (R-TX)
- Cosponsors: 4
- Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-04-21

## Summary

**Ban on most individual securities for senior Federal employees and their families.** This bill would prohibit senior Federal employees, their spouses, and dependent children from holding, buying, or selling many individual securities, derivatives, and synthetic instruments while the employee serves, with narrow exceptions. - Senior employees and households. It would require divestiture or placement in a qualified blind trust and gives current or new employees up to 180 days to complete required sales. The rule excludes diversified mutual funds, diversified ETFs, and U.S. Treasury securities. - Ethics offices and enforcement. Supervising ethics offices would publish annual compliance certifications, issue rules, and assess civil fines equal to the greater of $1,000 or 10 percent of the highest value of the covered instrument. Employees get written notice, a hearing opportunity, and an appeal right within 30 days. - Oversight and implementation. A Government Accountability Office audit is required within 2 years. The bill adds capacity for up to 100 appointments and allows the Office of Management and Budget to transfer duplicative unobligated funds to the Office of Government Ethics, available for five years.

## Cosponsors (4)

- Rep. Golden, Jared F. [D-ME-2] (D-ME), 2025-02-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Self, Keith [R-TX-3] (R-TX), 2025-02-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Brecheen, Josh [R-OK-2] (R-OK), 2025-02-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cammack, Kat [R-FL-3] (R-FL), 2025-02-26T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- More audits and funds for ethics: benefit, low. GAO would audit compliance within 2 years of enactment and send results to supervising ethics offices. The budget office could move unused money from duplicative executive programs to the ethics office, and that money could be used for 5 years. The bill would also allow appointing up to 100 employe…
- Heavy penalties for breaking trading rules: cost, high. If you break the rule, the ethics office could fine you the larger of $1,000 or 10% of the highest value of the instrument while you held it. You would also have to pay back any profits from violating trades or holdings to the U.S. Treasury. Before a fine, the office would give written notice, offe…
- New trading ban for senior officials: cost, high. Senior Federal employees, their spouses, and dependent children would not be allowed to buy, sell, or hold many stocks, commodities, or derivatives while they serve. Diversified mutual funds, diversified ETFs, and U.S. Treasury bills, notes, and bonds would still be allowed. They could also use a q…
- Annual public compliance statements required: cost, low. Each senior Federal employee would need to file a written certification at least once a year stating they, their spouse, and their dependents comply. The ethics office would post these certifications online. This requirement would start 12 months after enactment.
- Tax rules for forced asset sales: mixed, high. Losses from trades or holdings that violate the rule would not be deductible on your income tax return. If you must sell because of the rule, you would qualify for the IRS Certificate of Divestiture program (section 1043), which can offer special tax treatment when you are required to sell. These t…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-38: Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025
- 119-hjres-12: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to limit the number of terms that a Member of Congress may serve.
- 119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025
- 119-hr-987: Fair Access to Banking Act
- 119-hr-7651: Chloe Cole Act of 2026
- 119-hr-4448: Restoring Equal Opportunity Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-1599 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1599)

## Related
- [119-hr-38: Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-38)
- [119-hjres-12: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to limit the nu…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hjres-12)
- [119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3151)
- [119-hr-987: Fair Access to Banking Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-987)
- [119-hr-7651: Chloe Cole Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7651)
- [119-hr-4448: Restoring Equal Opportunity Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4448)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1599 (as of 2026-04-21).