Congressman's Oil Stock Buys After Iran Strikes Raise Eyebrows

Key Points

Congressman August Pfluger (R-Texas) bought shares in six companies on March 13, including oil and pipeline stocks, with each purchase valued between $15,000 and $50,000.
The trades occurred after U.S. strikes on Iran in February, which drove up oil prices, and Pfluger serves on committees overseeing energy policy and homeland security.
Two purchases—Enterprise Products Partners and Viper Energy—are drawing particular scrutiny due to Pfluger's committee roles and timing relative to investigations and hearings.
Pfluger's 2026 stock trading volume has surged to $219,000 year-to-date, a significant increase from his prior annual average of around $40,000.
Social media and watchdog accounts have highlighted potential conflicts, noting Pfluger's subcommittee oversees an agency investigating one of the companies he invested in.

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Oil stocks have been on a tear in 2026, with some hitting all-time highs. And who's buying? Well, among the investors snapping up shares after the United States launched strikes against Iran in February are members of Congress. That’s always a fun combination—geopolitical tension and congressional stock portfolios.

Congressman Buys Oil, Pipeline Stocks

Congressman August Pfluger (R-Texas) recently disclosed several stock purchases made in March, as reported by the MarketDash Government Trades page. Some of those trades are raising red flags, thanks to the timing and the committees he sits on.

Here’s what he bought, all on March 13:

Bought $15,000 to $50,000 in Berkshire Hathaway B (BRK-B) shares
Bought $15,000 to $50,000 in Dorchester Minerals LP (DMLP) shares
Bought $15,000 to $50,000 in Enterprise Products Partners LP (EPD) shares
Bought $15,000 to $50,000 in Kimbell Royalty Partners LP (KRP) shares
Bought $15,000 to $50,000 in U-Haul Holding Co Series N (UHAL-B) shares
Bought $15,000 to $50,000 in Viper Energy (VNOM) shares

Of those, two buys have caught particular attention on social media. "The timing on this is… something," the Pelosi Tracker tweeted. The account pointed out that Pfluger bought EPD shares shortly after a federal investigation into the company over a pipeline explosion. "Pfluger sits on the House Energy Subcommittee, which overseas PHMSA, the agency investigating $EPD. And that same subcommittee held a pipeline safety hearing 9 days before he bought the stock."

The purchase of shares in the $20 billion oil company Viper Energy also got noticed. "Pfluger sits on the House Committee on Energy. He also sits on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs," Quiver Quantitative tweeted. According to Pfluger's website, he serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee, including the Subcommittee on Energy, and also serves on the Homeland Security Committee.

Pfluger's Trading History

A member of Congress since 2021, Pfluger is relatively new to big stock moves like this. Data from Quiver Quantitative shows the congressman had traded around $40,000 annually in stocks each year until 2026. So far this year, he’s already traded $219,000 worth of stocks, including $195,000 in shares bought and $24,000 sold.

The timing of buying oil stocks is under scrutiny, given oil prices rose after the U.S. attacked Iran. Pfluger's committee assignments could, in theory, give him insight into the timing of attacks and what comes next in the conflict with Iran. Plus, his role overseeing an investigation into EPD might represent another conflict of interest in a congressional stock trade.