President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Andrew Ferguson as the new chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), replacing Lina Khan, whose tenure has been marked by aggressive antitrust actions against major corporations like Amazon and Meta.
Ferguson, currently one of the FTC’s five commissioners, is set to lead a commission currently divided along party lines, with three Democrats and two Republicans.
“Andrew has a proven record of standing up to Big Tech censorship and protecting freedom of speech,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. He added that Ferguson would be the most “America First” and pro-innovation FTC chair in the nation’s history.
Ferguson’s appointment signals a potential shift toward a more business-friendly approach to antitrust enforcement. The new leadership is expected to bring changes, including appointing new directors for the FTC’s antitrust and consumer protection divisions.
Impact on Antitrust and Corporate Mergers
Analysts anticipate that Ferguson’s leadership could pave the way for a more lenient stance on corporate mergers and acquisitions previously blocked under the Biden administration.
For instance, the proposed $24.6 billion merger between supermarket giants Kroger and Albertsons, stalled by the FTC earlier this year, could gain traction. However, with public concerns over rising grocery prices, the Trump administration may still tread cautiously on this front.
Despite a potential softening of antitrust policies, scrutiny of Big Tech firms for anticompetitive behavior may continue, particularly as many Republicans, including Vice President-elect JD Vance, have voiced support for addressing censorship and other practices by companies like Meta.
Additional Appointments
Trump also announced Jacob Helberg as the next Undersecretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, underscoring the administration’s focus on reshaping key federal agencies.
As the FTC transitions to new leadership, the impact on corporate regulation and innovation remains a focal point for businesses and policymakers alike.
