Far-right lawmaker’s investment raises ethics questions as $PLTR surges 81%
Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene purchased shares of Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE: PLTR) just days before the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency announced a major contract with the data analytics firm, according to newly disclosed financial records.
The Georgia Republican, a vocal supporter of law enforcement and immigration enforcement policies, sits on the House Committee on Homeland Security — the same committee that oversees ICE operations and federal contracts related to domestic security.
According to public financial disclosures, Greene acquired between $1,001 and $15,000 worth of Palantir stock on April 8th. Just nine days later, on April 17th, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed a multi-year ICE contract with Palantir reportedly worth hundreds of millions of dollars, designed to expand the agency’s use of artificial intelligence and surveillance tools at the border and in deportation operations.
Since Greene’s purchase, Palantir shares have surged, climbing more than 81% as of overnight trading Friday. The stock is now trading at its highest level since the company’s 2020 direct listing.
Ethics Concerns Reignited
Greene’s timely investment is already drawing scrutiny from government watchdogs and ethics experts, who say the purchase raises questions about the use of non-public information and potential conflicts of interest.
“If a member of Congress sits on a committee with jurisdiction over an agency and buys stock in a company that just landed a huge contract with that agency, it’s going to raise red flags,” said Jordan Libowitz, communications director at Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). “Even if it was purely coincidental, the optics are damaging.”
A spokesperson for Greene did not immediately respond to a request for comment. She has previously dismissed concerns over congressional stock trading as “left-wing distractions.”
A Pattern of Insider Activity?
Greene is not the only lawmaker under scrutiny for well-timed trades. Over the past several years, both Republican and Democratic members of Congress have faced criticism for transactions made ahead of significant government contracts or regulatory decisions. While the STOCK Act prohibits lawmakers from trading on material non-public information, enforcement has been rare, and penalties — if imposed — are often minimal.
Still, the timing of Greene’s Palantir investment is notable given her access to classified briefings and agency-level discussions as a Homeland Security committee member.
“It’s hard to believe this was just good luck,” said Richard Painter, former chief ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush. “It underscores the urgent need for stricter restrictions or an outright ban on congressional stock trading.”
Palantir’s Government Ties
Palantir, founded by billionaire Peter Thiel, has long been a major contractor for U.S. government agencies including ICE, the CIA, and the Department of Defense. The company specializes in big data analytics and has increasingly positioned itself as an indispensable player in federal surveillance and national security.
The latest ICE contract signals a deepening relationship with the federal government and reinforces Palantir’s long-term bet on public sector expansion. CEO Alex Karp has publicly stated the company’s goal is to become “the default operating system for the U.S. national security state.”
With immigration enforcement remaining a politically charged issue — and Palantir’s role in ICE operations frequently targeted by civil liberties groups — the contract and stock spike have renewed debates about transparency, accountability, and congressional ethics.
