America’s Military, Not America’s Politicians, Are the Real Public Servants

Capitol Trades data was used in a recent article examining the stark divide between the lives of American service members and those of elected officials, particularly around personal enrichment and financial privilege.

As the country marks Memorial Day 2025, a solemn day honoring military personnel who lost their lives in service, it's worth noting the contrast between the sacrifices made by members of the U.S. military and the perks routinely claimed by politicians.

While military families endure deployments, lower pay, limited healthcare options, and prolonged time away from loved ones, politicians continue to vote themselves benefits, take advantage of travel junkets and participate in questionable financial activity, including trades that suggest access to non-public information.

Presidents Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump both spoke on past Memorial Days about the significance of sacrifice. Reagan, in 1982 at Arlington National Cemetery, reminded Americans that “freedom is not bought cheaply.” Trump, speaking in 2018, called fallen service members “the best example of courage, virtue, and valor the world will ever know.”

These tributes stand in stark contrast to the way many elected officials conduct themselves today. Lavish trips, five-star dining, chauffeured cars, and political exemptions from laws that apply to ordinary citizens have become commonplace. In California, for instance, reports of lawmakers using staff for personal errands, like cleaning apartments or picking up laundry, have surfaced. Others attend multi-day conferences in Hawaii while giving only token speeches to justify the expense.

Political travel and military travel underscore the difference in roles. As Lance Izumi, Director of Education at the Pacific Research Institute and a former officer in the California State Military Reserve, noted: “California state legislators have gone on overseas junkets to places like Switzerland, Australia, and Singapore. Meanwhile, our armed forces deploy to some of the most dangerous and inhospitable places on the planet.” One is for comfort; the other, duty.

This disconnect between rhetoric and behavior has fueled public frustration. While politicians invoke the language of service, the reality often resembles personal advancement more than national duty. The insider trading activity revealed by Capitol Trades illustrates how access and influence can be monetized by those elected to serve.

As the country reflects this Memorial Day, the difference is clear: members of the military serve with risk, sacrifice, and honor, often without recognition. Too often, those in office serve themselves.