Trump’s Crypto Retirement Order Just Went Federal — GOP Moves to Lock It In
A US Republican lawmaker has introduced legislation to permanently embed President Donald Trump’s executive order on retirement investments.
This move could expand Americans’ access to crypto-exposed products in 401(k) plans. The bill aims to transform a temporary policy directive into a binding federal law.
Republican House Pushes to Codify Executive OrderOn Tuesday, Representative Troy Downing (R-Mont.) introduced the Retirement Investment Choice Act. The one-page bill grants Executive Order 14330—Trump’s directive allowing crypto in retirement accounts—“the force and effect of law.”
The initiative follows Trump’s August executive order instructing the Labor Department to permit “alternative assets,” including digital assets, when deemed appropriate by plan fiduciaries. The proposal could reshape the $25 trillion US retirement market by opening a new channel for Bitcoin-linked investment vehicles if enacted.
Executive orders can guide policy but lack statutory permanence. Future administrations or courts can reverse them. Downing’s bill aims to fix that gap by legally binding the directive.
“Alternative investments hold the transformative potential to supercharge Americans’ financial security,” Downing said. “I applaud President Trump for his leadership to democratize finance.”
The Retirement Investment Choice Act, introduced in Congress / Source: downing.house.gov
Meanwhile, the Department of Labor has 180 days to propose rule changes enabling plan sponsors to include such assets. However, the ongoing government shutdown could delay progress.
About a month after Trump’s order in September, nine lawmakers urged SEC Chair Paul Atkins to accelerate implementation. They argued that 90 million Americans excluded from alternative assets deserve a stable, dignified retirement.
Industry groups, including the American Retirement Association, back the bill. They say fiduciaries—not regulators—should decide suitable investment options.
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