President-elect Trump has selected Andrew Ferguson to head the Federal Trade Commission. He is already a member of the antitrust body.
“Andrew has a proven track record of standing up to big tech censorship and defending our nation's free speech,” Trump said in a statement posted on his social network Truth on Tuesday. “Andrew will be the most America-first, pro-innovation FTC Chairman in our nation's history.”
He added, “Andrew will be the most America-first, pro-innovation FTC Chairman in our nation's history.”
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FTC Commissioner Andrew Ferguson has been named the agency's chairman. (Screenshot/Federal Trade Commission)
Ferguson is one of two Republicans on the five-person committee, chaired by Lina Khan. Mr. Ferguson, who also served as Virginia's attorney general, was appointed to the commission by President Biden and joined the FTC on April 2.
The FTC serves as an antitrust and consumer protection agency.
Khan's replacement will likely mean the FTC will operate with a lighter mind when it comes to antitrust enforcement. The new commissioner is expected to appoint new directors for the FTC's antitrust and consumer protection divisions.
Mr. Khan became a lightning rod for Wall Street and Silicon Valley by blocking billions of dollars worth of acquisitions and suing Amazon and Meta, alleging anticompetitive practices.
Under Khan, the FTC blocked a proposed merger between two major supermarket chains, Koger and Albertsons, in a $24.6 billion deal in 2022.
Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan testifies before the House Judiciary Committee at the Rayburn House Office Building at the Capitol on July 13, 2023 in Washington, DC. The commission and its chairman, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), accused Khan and the commission of “misgovernance,” “ignorance of ethics and Congressional oversight,” and “politicized rulemaking.” denounced. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
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On Tuesday, a judge blocked the merger after the FTC filed a lawsuit seeking to block the move, saying it would lead to higher prices and lower wages for workers.
Mr. Ferguson's experience could signal continued scrutiny of big tech companies.
In a statement earlier this month, he called for prosecution of “unlawful conflicts” between online platforms that could limit “the ability of Americans to freely and openly exchange ideas.”
Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump takes the stage during a campaign rally at Desert Diamond Arena on August 23, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. The rally, held in partnership with Turning Point PAC and Turning Point Action, comes two weeks after Democratic presidential candidate and U.S. Vice President Harris held a rally at the same location. (Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)
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“Antitrust laws must be vigorously enforced, especially against platforms found to be unlawfully restricting Americans' ability to freely and openly exchange ideas,” he wrote.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
