House Judiciary Committee Withdraws Antitrust Authority Proposal

The House Judiciary Committee has reversed its recent attempt to strip the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) of its antitrust authority, withdrawing a proposal that would have transferred these powers to the Department of Justice (DOJ). The reversal came after significant pushback from Democratic lawmakers, antitrust advocates, and public scrutiny, with critics arguing the move would weaken enforcement against monopolies and harm small businesses and consumers. Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, who initially supported the measure, agreed to remove it from the current budget package but indicated he may pursue similar legislation separately in the future. The FTC and DOJ currently share antitrust oversight, a long-standing arrangement that some Republicans have sought to change amidst ongoing scrutiny of Big Tech firms. The abandoned proposal was criticized for potentially undermining protections against unfair competition and reducing the agency's ability to challenge dominant corporations. This decision comes as the FTC continues to pursue major antitrust cases, including litigation against Meta Platforms.