WASHINGTON — Multiple U.S. politicians reportedly purchased defense stocks prior to Israel’s recent attack on Iran, including Congressman Josh Gottheimer, who traded shares of Raytheon (RTX), a major weapons manufacturer.
Gottheimer, a Democrat representing New Jersey’s 5th District, traded at least $22 million worth of stock involving top Pentagon contractors such as Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, IBM, and Microsoft. Microsoft, which received $414 million from the Department of Defense in 2023 for cloud computing and software services, represented the majority of his transactions.
Gottheimer holds seats on the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the National Security Subcommittee of the Committee on Financial Services, both of which oversee national defense and security matters.
In a 2022 interview with CNBC, Gottheimer addressed his stock trades, stating, “I literally have no idea what they do,” explaining that his investments are handled by a third-party financial firm.
The timing of the trades has raised concerns amid increased scrutiny over potential conflicts of interest involving lawmakers with access to sensitive national security information.
Critics have drawn attention to the overlap between Gottheimer’s committee roles and his stock portfolio, highlighting growing debate over lawmakers’ financial dealings related to defense contractors.
