Since 1985, all Federal employees are under Social Security, not the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). Only those who —before 1985—made the choice to stay under CSRS receive that form of retirement.
But, what you NEVER hear about, is that they have access to TSP—the Thrift Savings Plan—which allows them to put a designsted portion of their pay into a variety of investment opportunities, including high risk stocks.
No doubt Congress critters who have TSP have made fortunes under it since they get insider info re many investment opportunities, including “high-risk” stocks.
The Thrift Savings plan or TSP option called the C Fund allows an individual to invest in the stock market in an S&P 500 index fund managed buy Blackrock Inc. An individual TSP participant cannot select individual quote hi risk unquote stocks. Period.
There are private S&P 500 index funds that do both better and worse than the Federal Employee Retirement System Thrift Savings Plan C fund which is nothing more than the S&P 500 index fund.
You cannot use the TSP plan as a vehicle to commit insider trading to benefit oneself.
Unfortunately, it is my understanding that members of the house and senate are immune from the insider trading laws through private brokers and from their annual financial disclosure statements it would be safe to assume they appear to take full advantage of that fact.
Regular civil service employees are not immune from insider trading laws. I think Martha Stewart could fill you in on that.
Insider tip: The politicians favorite 'investment' is.... Abortion Clinics.