Separately, the SEC last week proposed new ethics restrictions, including banning employees from investing in financial industry sector funds. The SEC already bars employees from owning or trading stocks that are under investigation by the agency, regardless of whether the employee is working on the matter.
The SEC’s ethics rules are stricter than those at many other agencies. But the Journal’s investigation found that those who violate the rules across federal agencies, including the SEC, rarely face severe consequences.
Source: U.S. Agencies Seek Tougher Rules, Internal Probes on Stock Trading by Federal Officials – WSJ