At least four U.S. members of Congress purchased stock in defense‐contracting companies between May and June 2025 while serving on congressional committees which oversee or fund the defense sector. All four trades were in companies that receive U.S. government contracts and whose share prices subsequently appreciated. While the law permits members of Congress to trade stocks, ethics watchdogs say these transactions raise serious appearance ‐of‐conflict concerns because the lawmakers may influence the very industry they are invested in.