DOJ Files Lawsuit to Block HPE-Juniper $14 Billion Merger

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a lawsuit to block Hewlett Packard Enterprise's (HPE) proposed $14 billion acquisition of Juniper Networks, marking the first merger challenge of the second Trump Administration. The DOJ argues that the merger would further consolidate a highly concentrated market, leaving HPE and Cisco controlling over 70% of the wireless local area network (WLAN) market, potentially stifling competition and innovation. In response, HPE and Juniper assert that the merger will enhance competition and provide greater innovation and choice for customers. Internal documents cited in the DOJ's complaint indicate that HPE viewed Juniper as a significant competitive threat, suggesting that the merger is more about eliminating competition than fostering it. The lawsuit reflects a continued commitment to antitrust enforcement within the administration, despite a generally business-friendly posture. The case has been assigned to Judge P. Casey Pitts in the Northern District of California for further proceedings.