Mike Johnson says lawmakers' $174K+ salaries haven't kept up with inflation — they need stock trading to 'take care of their family'
The same day, the U.S. Office of Government Ethics released filings showing President Donald Trump executed more than 3,600 stock transactions worth between $220 million and $750 million in the first quarter of 2026. (2)
What Speaker Johnson said
In the clip, Johnson lays out a sympathetic case. Frozen pay is already pushing qualified people away from Congress, he argues, and stock trading helps make the job worth taking.
"If you stay on this trajectory, you're going to have less qualified people who are willing to make the extreme sacrifice to run for Congress,” he says in the video. “I mean, people just make a reasonable decision as a family on whether or not they can come to Washington and have a residence here, residence at home, and do all the things that are required. So the counterargument is, and I have some sympathy, 'Look, at least let them, like, engage in some stock trading, so that they can continue to, you know, take care of their family.'" (3)
"On balance," Johnson added, he probably supports a ban "because I think it's been abused in the past, and I think, sadly, a few bad actors discolor it for everyone." Congress shouldn't have any "appearance of impropriety," he continued. (3)
Here's the thing: The salary numbers are real. The struggle is not.
What members of Congress actually make
Rank-and-file members of Congress make $174,000. The Speaker makes $223,500. Other top party leaders make $193,400. Those numbers haven't moved since 2009. After inflation, that's roughly a 30% pay cut. (6)
For 2025, Johnson scheduled the House for 136 working days in Washington. The Senate, under Majority Leader John Thune (R-South Dakota), is scheduled for 179. (14)
Salary is one piece. Members also get federal health benefits through the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, a defined-benefit pension that kicks in after five years of service, Thrift Savings Plan matching and allowances for travel and office expenses. They keep their pay during recesses and stay pension-eligible after leaving office.
Outside earned income is capped at 15% of the congressional salary. There's no cap on investment income, book royalties or capital gains. The 2012 STOCK Act requires members to disclose financial transactions within 45 days, but enforcement has historically been limited to $200 fines for late filings. (6)
For context: Median U.S. household income in 2024 was $83,730, per the latest Census Bureau data. (7) A $174,000 base salary puts a lawmaker in the top 10% of American earners. Benefits, allowances and trading gains stack on top.
The trades fueling the scrutiny — from Pelosi to Trump
The Pelosi household has generated an estimated 16,930% return since 1987 and beat the market by 581% over the past decade, per Quiver Quantitative. Her portfolio gained 70.9% in 2024 against the S&P 500's 24.9%, according to Unusual Whales' 2024 Congress Trading Report. The trades are disclosed under the STOCK Act and have historically been executed by her husband, Paul Pelosi. A spokesperson has previously said the former Speaker "does not own any stocks and has no knowledge or subsequent involvement in any transactions." (8)