The US’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) released its enforcement annual results on Tuesday, reporting a total of 348 enforcement actions and $1.1 billion of financial penalties in 2026.

These figures are the lowest in a long time, according to Reuters. The newswire’s analysis shows that the SEC brought its fewest cases since 1991, while its penalties were smaller than they have been since 2008 on a non-inflation-adjusted basis.

The total penalties were comprised of $752 million in disgorgement and prejudgement and $343 million in civil penalties, with $235 million of this deemed satisfied by a court in a separate non-SEC action.

The agency also returned around $731 million to over 250,000 harmed investors.

Under the Trump administration, regulators including the SEC have faced pressure to tone down their enforcement actions, with new heads appointed to oversee these transitions.

Current SEC chair Paul Atkins has long been a critic of the institution, often voting against punishing large companies when he was a senior official there, reporting by Reuters last year suggested. He would also frequently push back against efforts to bring new charges, it added.

“The success of the SEC’s enforcement program is ultimately measured by how effectively it advances the SEC’s mission, protects investors, holds wrongdoers accountable, and strengthens confidence in our markets,” Atkins said of the results.

“Enforcement actions and financial remedies are important measures of activity, but they are not the only or most telling measures. Our responsibility is to apply the law fairly and consistently and ensure that our enforcement efforts advance the Commission’s mission. I commend the staff for their dedication to an effective, disciplined enforcement program that serves the investing public.”

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