Record-Setting SEC Enforcement Activity in Q1

April 1st, 2025

Intensified Crackdown on Misconduct

When we take a look at the number of SEC enforcement actions during the first quarter of this year, it is clear the SEC is intensifying its crackdown on misconduct with unprecedented intensity.

200 Enforcement Actions in Q1

On 17 January 2025, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced preliminary results indicating it had initiated a total of 200 enforcement actions. These enforcements cover the period from October through December 2024. Among these were 118 standalone enforcement actions.

During the month of October 2024, the SEC brought 75 enforcement actions, the highest number since at least 2000.

Diverse Violations Targeted

The first-quarter enforcement actions targeted a diverse range of violations, ranging from misleading disclosure, financial misstatements, and failures by advisory firms to disclose conflict of interest, to fraud among retail investors, alleged bribery, and misleading statements involving artificial intelligence (AI).

Statements from SEC Leadership

SEC Chair Gary Gensler noted that he was proud of the work the SEC Division of Enforcement was doing in their efforts to protect public investors. Of course, he’s gone now and enforcement activity is expected to recede under the Trump administration, but that doesn’t mean it will stop. The SEC pays for itself through fines and even returns money to the Treasury each year.

Acting Director for the Division of Enforcement, Sanjay Wadhwa, said that the impressive figures indicated the Division’s focus on maintaining momentum and protecting investors.

Continued Emphasis on Cooperation and Remediation

The SEC gave credit to companies who took it upon themselves to self-report, self-police, and initiate remedies when failures did occur. He also emphasized the continued benefits of cooperation and remediation.