President-elect Trump He named Andrew Ferguson chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, the antitrust agency for which he already serves as commissioner.
“Andrew has a proven track record of standing up to Big Tech censorship and protecting freedom of expression in our great country,” Trump said in a statement Tuesday posted on his Truth social network. “Andrew will be the most 'America First' and most pro-innovation FTC Chairman in our country's history.”
“Andrew will be the most 'America First' and most pro-innovation FTC Chairman in our country's history,” he added.
FTC Commissioner Andrew Ferguson has been appointed to head the agency. (Screenshot/FTC)
Ferguson is one of the Republican commissioners on the five-member commission chaired by Lina Khan. Ferguson, who also served as Virginia's solicitor general, was previously appointed to the commission President Biden It joined the Federal Trade Commission on April 2.
The Federal Trade Commission is charged with serving as an antitrust and consumer protection agency.
Khan's replacement likely means the FTC will operate with a lighter touch when it comes to antitrust enforcement. The new president is expected to appoint new directors for the FTC's antitrust and consumer protection divisions.
Khan became a lightning rod on Wall Street and Silicon Valley By blocking multi-billion dollar corporate acquisitions and suing Amazon and Meta alleging anti-competitive conduct.
Under Khan, the FTC blocked a proposed merger between Korger and Albertsons, two large supermarket chains that closed a $24.6 billion deal in 2022.
Federal Trade Commission Chairwoman Lena Khan testifies before the House Judiciary Committee at the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill on July 13, 2023, in Washington, DC. The committee and its chairman, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), accused Khan and the committee of “mismanagement,” “ignoring ethics and congressional oversight,” and “politicized rulemaking.” (Chip Somodevila/Getty Images)
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On Tuesday, a judge blocked the merger after the Federal Trade Commission sued to block the move, claiming it would lead to higher prices and lower wages for workers.
Ferguson's experience could point to continued scrutiny of Big Tech.
In a statement earlier this month, he called for the prosecution of “unlawful collision” between online platforms that could limit “the ability of Americans to freely and openly exchange ideas.”
Republican presidential candidate, former US 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 US Vice President Harris held a rally at the same location. (Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)
“In particular, we must vigorously enforce antitrust laws against any platforms found to be unlawfully limiting Americans’ ability to freely and openly exchange ideas,” he wrote.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
