Key insight: Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Paul Atkins said the agency’s enforcement program should be judged not by the number of actions filed, but by their effectiveness.
Expert quote: “The new Democratic majority in Congress will closely scrutinize whether the Atkins SEC is protecting the American people — or working for scammers and Trump’s billionaire buddies on Wall Street.” — Senate Banking Committee ranking member Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.
WASHINGTON — The Securities and Exchange Commission’s enforcement actions fell nearly 24% in fiscal 2026, drawing criticism from lawmakers and financial reform advocates over the agency’s approach to investor protection.
In its annual report, the agency said its enforcement division filed 348 actions, including 235 standalone actions and 113 “follow-on” administrative proceedings. Those proceedings sought to bar or suspend individuals from participating in certain securities market activities based on factors such as criminal convictions or injunctions.
