Peter O. Schmidt
The data on this page comes from a financial disclosure filed by Peter O. Schmidt, who was picked to be: Director, Executive Secretariat, Department of Commerce in April, 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| King & Spalding LLP (law firm) | $320K | Salary | 1 | ||
| Roth IRA | 2 | ||||
| Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 2.1 | ||
| IRA | 3 | ||||
| U.S. TREASURY NOTES | $15,001 - $50,000 | None (or less than $201) | 3.1 | ||
| U.S. TREASURY NOTES | $15,001 - $50,000 | None (or less than $201) | 3.2 | ||
| U.S. TREASURY NOTES | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 3.3 | ||
| U.S. TREASURY NOTES | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 3.4 | ||
| U.S. TREASURY NOTES | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 3.5 | ||
| Virginia bonds | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 3.6 | ||
| TVA bonds | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 3.7 | ||
| TVA bonds | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 3.8 | ||
| U.S. Treasury strips | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 3.9 | ||
| Norfolk, VA, bonds | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 3.10 | ||
| U.S. Treasury bills | None (or less than $1,001) | None (or less than $201) | 3.11 | ||
| SPDR S&P 500 ETF TRUST (SPY) | $15,001 - $50,000 | None (or less than $201) | 3.12 | ||
| Virginia bonds | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 3.13 | ||
| King & Spalding LLP, 401(k) plan | 4 | ||||
| Vanguard Target Ret Tr 2045 II | $100K - $250K | None (or less than $201) | 4.1 | ||
| Mayer Brown LLP, 401(k) plan | 5 | ||||
| Vanguard Target Ret Tr 2040 II | $50,001 - $100K | None (or less than $201) | 5.1 | ||
| SnapShip IP LLC (IP sales) | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 6 |
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. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayer Brown LLP | I will continue to participate in this defined contribution plan, but the plan sponsor no longer makes contributions. (2016-07-01) | 1 | |
| King & Spalding LLP | I will continue to participate in this defined contribution plan, but the plan sponsor no longer makes contributions. (2019-06-01) | 2 |
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. |
|---|---|---|---|
| King & Spalding LLP | Services as Partner | As a partner at the law firm of King & Spalding LLP, the legal services I provide are subject to District of Columbia Bar Rule of Professional Conduct 1.6 (DC Rule 1.6) and Wisconsin Bar Rule of Professional Conduct 1.6 (WI Rule 1.6) on confidentiality of information. DC Rule 1.6 prohibits knowingly revealing a confidence or secret of a client, including the identity of a client or the fact of such representation. WI Rule 1.6 prohibits revealing information relating to the representation of a client, including the identity of a client or the fact of such representation, even if the identity of the client has already been disclosed in public. See Wisconsin Formal Ethics Opinion EF-17-02. Notwithstanding this, I have disclosed representations of clients where the client consented to the disclosure. I provided services to six additional clients who are entities where DC and/or WI Rule 1.6 applies and where disclosure of the client identity and the fact of representation would reveal a client confidence or secret and/or information relating to the representation of a client. | 1 |
| Tallgrass Energy Partners, LP | Legal services (client of King & Spalding LLP) | 2 | |
| BIO-key International, Inc. | Legal services (client of King & Spalding LLP) | 3 | |
| Amazon.com, Inc. | Legal services (client of King & Spalding LLP) | 4 |
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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. savings bonds | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 1 | ||
| U.S. savings bonds | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 2 | ||
| U.S. savings bonds | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 3 | ||
| U.S. Bank (Cash) | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 4 | ||
| U.S. Bank (Cash) | $15,001 - $50,000 | None (or less than $201) | 5 | ||
| U.S. Bank (Cash) | $15,001 - $50,000 | None (or less than $201) | 6 | ||
| Brokerage account 1 | 7 | ||||
| Arlington, VA, bonds | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 7.1 | ||
| Fairfax, VA, bonds | $15,001 - $50,000 | $1,001 - $2,500 | Interest | 7.2 | |
| Fairfax, VA, bonds | $1,001 - $15,000 | $201 - $1,000 | Interest | 7.3 | |
| FHLB bonds | None (or less than $1,001) | $201 - $1,000 | Capital Gains Interest | 7.4 | |
| FHLB bonds | None (or less than $1,001) | $201 - $1,000 | Capital Gains Interest | 7.5 | |
| FFCB bonds | None (or less than $1,001) | $201 - $1,000 | Capital Gains Interest | 7.6 | |
| U.S. Treasury bonds | $1,001 - $15,000 | $201 - $1,000 | Interest | 7.7 | |
| U.S. TREASURY NOTES | $15,001 - $50,000 | $201 - $1,000 | Interest | 7.8 | |
| U.S. TREASURY NOTES | $15,001 - $50,000 | $201 - $1,000 | Interest | 7.9 | |
| U.S. TREASURY NOTES | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 7.10 | ||
| Virginia bonds | $1,001 - $15,000 | $201 - $1,000 | Interest | 7.11 | |
| Virginia bonds | $1,001 - $15,000 | $201 - $1,000 | Interest | 7.12 | |
| Eli Lilly & Co. (LLY) | None (or less than $1,001) | $201 - $1,000 | Capital Gains Dividends | 7.13 | |
| Meta Platforms Inc. Class A Common Stock (META) | None (or less than $1,001) | $201 - $1,000 | Capital Gains Dividends | 7.14 | |
| Nvidia Corp. (NVDA) | None (or less than $1,001) | $201 - $1,000 | Capital Gains Dividends | 7.15 | |
| Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) | None (or less than $1,001) | $1,001 - $2,500 | 7.16 | ||
| SPDR S&P 500 ETF TRUST (SPY) | $15,001 - $50,000 | $201 - $1,000 | 7.17 | ||
| Broadcom, Inc. (AVGO) | None (or less than $1,001) | $1,001 - $2,500 | Capital Gains | 7.18 | |
| SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 7.19 | ||
| U.S. Treasury bills | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 7.20 | ||
| U.S. Treasury bills | None (or less than $1,001) | $201 - $1,000 | Interest | 7.21 | |
| U.S. Treasury bills | None (or less than $1,001) | $201 - $1,000 | Interest | 7.22 | |
| U.S. Treasury bills | None (or less than $1,001) | $201 - $1,000 | Interest | 7.23 | |
| Brokerage account 2 | 8 | ||||
| U.S. Treasury bills | None (or less than $1,001) | $201 - $1,000 | Interest | 8.1 | |
| U.S. Treasury bills | None (or less than $1,001) | $201 - $1,000 | Interest | 8.2 | |
| U.S. Treasury bills | None (or less than $1,001) | $201 - $1,000 | Interest | 8.3 | |
| U.S. Treasury bills | None (or less than $1,001) | $201 - $1,000 | Interest | 8.4 | |
| U.S. Treasury bills | None (or less than $1,001) | $201 - $1,000 | Interest | 8.5 | |
| U.S. Treasury bills | None (or less than $1,001) | $201 - $1,000 | Interest | 8.6 | |
| U.S. Treasury bills | None (or less than $1,001) | $201 - $1,000 | Interest | 8.7 | |
| U.S. Treasury bills | None (or less than $1,001) | $201 - $1,000 | Interest | 8.8 | |
| Fairfax, VA, bonds | None (or less than $1,001) | $201 - $1,000 | Capital Gains Interest | 8.9 | |
| Norfolk, VA, bonds | $1,001 - $15,000 | $201 - $1,000 | Interest | 8.10 | |
| U.S. TREASURY NOTES | None (or less than $1,001) | $1,001 - $2,500 | Interest | 8.11 | |
| U.S. TREASURY NOTES | $15,001 - $50,000 | $201 - $1,000 | Interest | 8.12 | |
| Virginia bonds | $1,001 - $15,000 | $201 - $1,000 | Interest | 8.13 | |
| Virginia bonds | $15,001 - $50,000 | $201 - $1,000 | Interest | 8.14 | |
| Virginia bonds | $1,001 - $15,000 | $201 - $1,000 | Interest | 8.15 | |
| Virginia bonds | $1,001 - $15,000 | $201 - $1,000 | Interest | 8.16 | |
| Virginia bonds | $15,001 - $50,000 | $1,001 - $2,500 | Interest | 8.17 | |
| Virginia bonds | $15,001 - $50,000 | $1,001 - $2,500 | Interest | 8.18 | |
| Virginia bonds | $1,001 - $15,000 | $201 - $1,000 | Interest | 8.19 | |
| Virginia bonds | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 8.20 | ||
| Nvidia Corp. (NVDA) | None (or less than $1,001) | $2,501 - $5,000 | Capital Gains Dividends | 8.21 | |
| Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF (PPA) | None (or less than $1,001) | $201 - $1,000 | 8.22 | ||
| T Rowe Price Virginia Tax-Free Bond Fund (PRVAX) | None (or less than $1,001) | $201 - $1,000 | 8.23 | ||
| Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) | $15,001 - $50,000 | $201 - $1,000 | 8.24 | ||
| SPDR S&P 500 ETF TRUST (SPY) | $15,001 - $50,000 | $1,001 - $2,500 | 8.25 | ||
| SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF (XAR) | None (or less than $1,001) | $1,001 - $2,500 | 8.26 | ||
| Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) | None (or less than $1,001) | $201 - $1,000 | 8.27 | ||
| AST SpaceMobile Inc. Class A Common Stock (ASTS) | None (or less than $1,001) | $2,501 - $5,000 | Capital Gains | 8.28 | |
| MongoDB, Inc. (MDB) | None (or less than $1,001) | $2,501 - $5,000 | Capital Gains | 8.29 | |
| SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) | $15,001 - $50,000 | $201 - $1,000 | 8.30 | ||
| Treasury Bills | $15,001 - $50,000 | None (or less than $201) | 8.31 | ||
| Treasury Bonds | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 8.32 | ||
| Treasury notes | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 8.33 | ||
| cash | $50,001 - $100K | None (or less than $201) | 8.34 | ||
| Brokerage account 3 | 9 | ||||
| Perth Mint Physical Gold ETF (AAAU) | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 9.1 | ||
| Treasury notes | None (or less than $1,001) | $201 - $1,000 | Interest | 9.2 | |
| FHLB bonds | $1,001 - $15,000 | $201 - $1,000 | Interest | 9.3 | |
| FHLB bonds | $1,001 - $15,000 | $201 - $1,000 | Interest | 9.4 | |
| Virtual currency wallet 1 | 10 | ||||
| Bitcoin | $1,001 - $15,000 | $1,001 - $2,500 | Capital Gains | 10.1 | |
| Ether | $1,001 - $15,000 | $201 - $1,000 | Capital Gains | 10.2 | |
| XRP | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 10.3 | ||
| Solana | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 10.4 | ||
| HSA | 11 | ||||
| VANGUARD 500 INDEX ADMIRAL | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 11.1 | ||
| Virtual currency wallet 2 | 12 | ||||
| Account 1 | 12.1 | ||||
| Bitcoin | $100K - $250K | None (or less than $201) | 12.1.1 | ||
| Account 2 | 12.2 | ||||
| Bitcoin | $50,001 - $100K | None (or less than $201) | 12.2.1 | ||
| Account 3 | 12.3 | ||||
| Bitcoin | $50,001 - $100K | None (or less than $201) | 12.3.1 | ||
| Account 4 | 12.4 | ||||
| Bitcoin | $15,001 - $50,000 | None (or less than $201) | 12.4.1 | ||
| Account 5 | 12.5 | ||||
| Ether | $15,001 - $50,000 | None (or less than $201) | 12.5.1 | ||
| Account 6 | 12.6 | ||||
| Ether | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 12.6.1 | ||
| Account 7 | 12.7 | ||||
| Ether | $1,001 - $15,000 | None (or less than $201) | 12.7.1 |
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.
Join us on Wednesday, April 8 for a walkthrough of ProPublica's new database of financial disclosures from Trump appointees and any potential conflicts they reveal. Register here.
