Patrick L. Butler
The data on this page comes from a financial disclosure filed by Patrick L. Butler, who was picked to be: Counsel, Department of Commerce in March, 2025. It is part of a collection of thousands of ethics documents ProPublica has been collecting from across the Trump administration.
Roles Outside Government
Officials are required to disclose paid or unpaid positions they hold or recently held outside the federal government, including roles as officer, director, trustee or employee. (Form 278e, Part 1)
Employment Assets
Officials are required to disclose assets associated with their employment, including salary, retirement accounts, stocks, intellectual property and awards or prizes. (Form 278e, Part 2)
| Description | Value | Income | Income Type | Endnote | Line No. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kirkland & Ellis, LLP (law firm) | $593K | Salary/Bonus | 1 | ||
| TRADITIONAL IRA | 2 | ||||
| FIDELITY GOVERNMENT CASH RESERVES (FDRXX) | None (or less than $1,001) | None (or less than $201) | 2.1 | ||
| Roth IRA | 3 | ||||
| FIDELITY GOVERNMENT CASH RESERVES (FDRXX) | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 3.1 | ||
| Bancroft Fund (BCV) | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 3.2 | ||
| Berkshire Hathaway Inc Class B (BRKB) | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 3.3 | ||
| Dimensional US Targeted Value ETF (DFAT) | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 3.4 | ||
| Dimensional International Value ETF (DFIV) | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 3.5 | ||
| Wisdomtree Emerging Markets SmallCap ETF (DGS) | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 3.6 | ||
| Fidelity MSCI Health Care ETF (FHLC) | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 3.7 | ||
| Fidelity MSCI Real Estate ETF (FREL) | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 3.8 | ||
| SPDR® Gold MiniShares (GLDM) | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 3.9 | ||
| iShares Core MSCI Intl Dev Mkts ETF (IDEV) | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 3.10 | ||
| iShare Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (IJR) | None (or less than $1,001) | None (or less than $201) | 3.11 | ||
| iShares US Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA) | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 3.12 | ||
| JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF (JEPI) | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 3.13 | ||
| JPMORGAN INCOME ETF (JPIE) | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 3.14 | ||
| Saba Capital Income & Ops Fund II (SABA) | None (or less than $1,001) | None (or less than $201) | 3.15 | ||
| Schwab International Small-Cap ETF (SCHC) | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 3.16 | ||
| Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) | None (or less than $1,001) | None (or less than $201) | 3.17 | ||
| SPDR® DoubleLine® Total Return Tact ETF (TOTL) | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 3.18 | ||
| Vanguard Communication Services ETF (VOX) | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 3.19 | ||
| WisdomTree EmMkts ex-Stt-Ownd EntrprsETF (XSOE) | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 3.20 | ||
| Fidelity Advisor Real Estate Income Z (FIKMX) | None (or less than $1,001) | None (or less than $201) | 3.21 | ||
| AQR Diversifying Strategies I (QDSIX) | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 3.22 | ||
| Kirkland & Ellis, LLP | 4 | ||||
| Vanguard Target Retirement 2060 Trust Plus | $100K - $250K | None (or less than $201) | 4.1 |
Employment Agreements
Officials are required to disclose agreements relating to other jobs, including what will happen with any small businesses they own during government service and any continued health care coverage, planned leaves of absence, severance or bonuses. (Form 278e, Part 3)
| Organization | Agreement | Endnote | Line No. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kirkland & Ellis, LLP | I will continue to participate in this defined contribution plan, but the plan sponsor no longer makes contributions. (2021-09-01) | 1 |
Compensation
Officials are required to disclose the sources of any compensation above $5,000 in a year. (Form 278e, Part 4)
| Organization | Description | Endnote | Line No. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kirkland & Ellis, LLP | Services as Associate | 1 | |
| THE BOEING COMPANY | Legal services | 2 | |
| Charter Communications | Legal services | 3 | |
| Exxon Mobil Corporation | Legal services | 4 | |
| Honeywell International Inc. | Legal services | 5 | |
| L Catteron | Legal services | 6 | |
| Kodiak Cakes | Legal services | 7 | |
| Movair, Inc. | Legal Services | 8 | |
| Syngenta Crop Protection, LLC | Legal services | 9 | |
| Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc. | Legal services | 10 | |
| Syngenta AG | Legal services | 11 |
Spouse’s Assets
Officials are required to disclose their spouse’s assets, including salary and retirement accounts worth more than $1,000. (Form 278e, Part 5)
| Description | Value | Income | Income Type | Endnote | Line No. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kirkland and Ellis, LLP (Law firm) | salary, bonus | 1 | |||
| Vanguard IRA | 2 | ||||
| VANGUARD FEDERAL MONEY MARKET FUND | $15,001 - $50,000 | None (or less than $201) | 2.1 | ||
| Vanguard Target Retirement 2050 Investor Cl (VFIFX) | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 2.2 | ||
| Vanguard 401(k) | 3 | ||||
| Vanguard Target Retirement 2055 Trust Plus | $100K - $250K | None (or less than $201) | 3.1 |
Other Assets and Income
Officials are required to disclose other assets and sources of investment income belonging to them, their spouse or their dependent children. These include annuities, bonds, cash, college savings plans, farms, precious metals, real estate, stocks, trusts and wills. (Form 278e, Part 6)
| Description | Value | Income | Income Type | Endnote | Line No. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FIDELITY GOVERNMENT CASH RESERVES (FDRXX) | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 1 | ||
| Alerian MLP Index ETN (AMJB) | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 2 | ||
| Bancroft Fund (BCV) | None (or less than $1,001) | None (or less than $201) | 3 | ||
| ISHARES FLEXIBLE INCOME ACTIVE ETF (BINC) | None (or less than $1,001) | None (or less than $201) | 4 | ||
| Berkshire Hathaway Inc Class B (BRKB) | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 5 | ||
| Dimensional US Core Equity 2 ETF (DFAC) | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 6 | ||
| Dimensional Emerging Core Equity Mkt ETF (DFAE) | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 7 | ||
| Dimensional International Cr Eq Mkt ETF (DFAI) | $15,001 - $50,000 | $201 - $1,000 | 8 | ||
| Dimensional US Targeted Value ETF (DFAT) | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 9 | ||
| Dimensional US Core Equity Market ETF (DFAU) | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 10 | ||
| Dimensional National Municipal Bond ETF (DFNM) | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 11 | ||
| IShares Core Dividend Growth ETF (DGRO) | $15,001 - $50,000 | $201 - $1,000 | 12 | ||
| WisdomTree Emerging Markets SmCp Div ETF (DGS) | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 13 | ||
| BlackRock ESG Capital Allocation Term (ECAT) | $1,001 - $15,000 | $201 - $1,000 | 14 | ||
| iShares MSCI Emerging Mkts ex China ETF (EMXC) | $1,001 - $15,000 | $201 - $1,000 | 15 | ||
| Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC) | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 16 | ||
| Fidelity MSCI Communication ServicesETF (FCOM) | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 17 | ||
| Fidelity MSCI Health Care ETF (FHLC) | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 18 | ||
| Franklin FTSE United Kingdom ETF (FLGB) | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 19 | ||
| Fidelity MSCI Real Estate ETF (FREL) | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 20 | ||
| SPDR® Gold MiniShares (GLDM) | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 21 | ||
| Invesco Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF (IBBQ) | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 22 | ||
| iShares Core MSCI Intl Dev Mkts ETF (IDEV) | $15,001 - $50,000 | $201 - $1,000 | 23 | ||
| ISHARES Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (IEMG) | None (or less than $1,001) | None (or less than $201) | 24 | ||
| ISHARES Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (IJR) | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 25 | ||
| iShares Core MSCI Total Intl Stk ETF (IXUS) | $1,001 - $15,000 | $201 - $1,000 | 26 | ||
| PIMCO Enhanced Low Duration Active ETF (LDUR) | $1,001 - $15,000 | $201 - $1,000 | 27 | ||
| Schwab International Small-Cap Eq ETF™ (SCHC) | None (or less than $1,001) | None (or less than $201) | 28 | ||
| Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF™ (SCHD) | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 29 | ||
| Schwab Short-Term US Treasury ETF™ (SCHO) | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 30 | ||
| iShares Short Treasury Bond ETF (SHV) | None (or less than $1,001) | None (or less than $201) | 31 | ||
| SPDR® Portfolio S&P 600™ Sm Cap ETF (SPSM) | None (or less than $1,001) | None (or less than $201) | 32 | ||
| iShares 0-5 Year TIPS Bond ETF (STIP) | $1,001 - $15,000 | $201 - $1,000 | 33 | ||
| Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF (VO) | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 34 | ||
| Vanguard FTSE All-Wld ex-US SmCp ETF (VSS) | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 35 | ||
| Fidelity Contrafund (FCNTX) | None (or less than $1,001) | None (or less than $201) | 36 | ||
| Fidelity Advisor Real Estate Income Z (FIKMX) | None (or less than $1,001) | None (or less than $201) | 37 | ||
| Discover High Yield Savings Account | $100K - $250K | $2,501 - $5,000 | Interest | 38 | |
| Wells Fargo Checking account | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 39 | ||
| BOA Checking Account | $15,001 - $50,000 | None (or less than $201) | 40 | ||
| BOA Savings Account | None (or less than $1,001) | None (or less than $201) | 41 | ||
| Amex High Yield Savings Account | $500K - $1M | $15,001 - $50,000 | Interest | 42 | |
| 601 Pennsylvania Avenue Condominium | $500K - $1M | $15,001 - $50,000 | Rent or Royalties | 43 |
Liabilities
Officials are required to disclose their liabilities totaling more than $10,000, as well as any linked to their spouse or dependent children. These include mortgages, credit card debt and student loans. The interest rates and loan repayment terms are also required. (Form 278e, Part 8)
| Creditor | Description | Endnote | Line No. |
|---|---|---|---|
| The National Capital Bank of Washington | type: Mortgage (investment/rent al property), amount: $250,001 - $500,000, year-incurred: 2021, rate: 3.25, term: 30 years | 1 |
About the Data
Most political appointees and senior officials in the executive branch are required by law to file public financial disclosure reports. These are documents that detail their financial holdings, positions they hold outside government, their spouse’s holdings, their liabilities and their recent financial transactions (such as buying or selling stock) during a defined reporting period.
The most senior officials file their disclosures with an agency called the Office of Government Ethics, and others file them with a designated ethics official within their agency. The Ethics in Government Act allows members of the public and the press to request these documents.
We’re publishing this information to give the public an important glimpse into the financial ties of a powerful and often hidden cadre of presidential appointees within the federal bureaucracy.
The main document type included in the database is the OGE Form 278e, which appointees must file when they are nominated (for Senate-confirmed appointees) or when they enter government (all others), and then annually while in the position. Another common document included is the OGE Form 278-T, also known as a periodic transaction report, which all public filers must submit within 30 days of a transaction. We are also making other ethics documents available, such as ethics agreements, certificates of divestiture and other documents we have obtained under the Ethics in Government Act.
