President-elect Trump has appointed Andrew Ferguson as chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, the antitrust organization of which he is already a commissioner.
“Andrew has a proven track record of resisting Big Tech censorship and protecting free speech in our great country,” Trump said in a statement on his Truth Social network on Tuesday. “Andrew will be the most America First and pro-innovation FTC chairman in our nation’s history.”
“Andrew will be the most America First and pro-innovation FTC chairman in our country’s history,” he added.
FTC Commissioner Andrew Ferguson has been appointed chairman of the agency. (Screenshot/Federal Trade Commission)
Ferguson is one of two Republican commissioners on the five-member panel chaired by Lina Khan. Ferguson, who also served as attorney general of Virginia, was President Biden and joined the FTC on April 2.
The FTC is charged with acting as an antitrust and consumer protection agency.
Khan’s replacement likely means the FTC will take a lighter approach when it comes to antitrust enforcement. The new chairman is expected to appoint new directors of the FTC’s antitrust and consumer protection divisions.
Khan became a lightning rod for Wall Street and Silicon Valley by blocking billions of dollars worth of corporate takeovers and suing Amazon and Meta while alleging anti-competitive behavior.
Under Khan, the FTC blocked a proposed merger between Korger and Albertsons, two major supermarket chains that struck a $24.6 billion deal in 2022.
Federal Trade Commission Chairwoman Lina Khan testifies before the House Judiciary Committee at the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill on July 13, 2023 in Washington, DC. The commission and its chairman, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), have accused Khan and the commission of “mismanagement,” “disregard for congressional ethics and oversight” and “politicized regulation.” (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
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On Tuesday, a judge halted the merger after the FTC filed a lawsuit to block the move, saying it would lead to high prices and lower wages for workers.
Ferguson’s experience could indicate continued scrutiny of big tech companies.
In a statement earlier this month, he called for the prosecution of “unlawful clashes” between online platforms that could limit “Americans’ ability to freely and openly exchange ideas.”
Republican presidential candidate, former US President Donald Trump, takes the stage during a campaign rally at the Desert Diamond Arena on August 23, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. The meeting, held in partnership with Turning Point PAC and Turning Point Action, comes two weeks after Democratic presidential candidate US Vice President Harris held a rally at the same location. (Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)
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“Specifically, we must vigorously enforce antitrust laws against any platforms found to unlawfully restrict Americans’ ability to freely and openly exchange ideas,” he wrote.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
