Rep. Budzinski Introduces Bipartisan PREDICT Act to Ban Federal Officials From Betting on Elections
The PREDICT Act is currently in the early stages of the legislative process and is being reviewed by three different House committees. It is actively moving forward as it waits for these groups to finish their initial study of the proposal. There are no upcoming votes scheduled at this time.
Part of: story →The bill has support from both parties and addresses a popular public concern about ethics, but it must pass through several committees where similar bills often stall.
Senior federal employees above the GS-15 pay grade and political appointees would be banned from trading on prediction markets tied to political events. This restricts a financial activity that is legal for the general public, but the restriction is relatively narrow since it only targets high-ranking officials who could have insider knowledge. Lower-ranking federal workers are not affected.
Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on House Administration, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
The bipartisan PREDICT Act, sponsored by Reps. Nikki Budzinski and Adrian Smith, would bar members of Congress, the president, and their families from trading on political events. Violators face a 10% fine of the transaction value and must repay all winnings to the U.S. Treasury.
U.S. Representatives Adrian Smith and Nikki Budzinski introduced the PREDICT Act to prohibit federal officials from wagering on political and policy events. The bill targets a gap in current law as prediction markets expand, imposing civil fines and profit forfeiture for violations.
The PREDICT Act, introduced March 25, 2026, by Reps. Budzinski and Smith, imposes civil penalties of 10% of the transaction value plus full disgorgement of profits. It extends trading bans to spouses, dependent children, and Executive Schedule positions, covering nearly every federal official.
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
PREDICT Act
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