Senator Elizabeth Warren has formally accused SEC Chair Paul Atkins of potentially lying to Congress. The accusation stems from a letter Warren sent this week, alleging the regulator misled the Senate Banking Committee in February.
During a February hearing, Atkins was questioned about a decline in new enforcement actions under the Trump administration. He reportedly disagreed with the premise of the inquiry and stated he was unsure of the data being referenced.
New data released by the SEC shows a sharp decrease in enforcement actions. The agency brought 456 new actions in 2025, with 256 filed under the Trump administration, significantly lower than the decade-long average of 765 annually. Warren stated this decline raises concerns about investor protection and potential political favoritism.
The crime of making a materially false statement to a congressional committee is punishable by fine and up to five years in prison. The SEC declined to comment.