{"id":37803,"date":"2025-03-18T22:01:38","date_gmt":"2025-03-18T22:01:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/publicknowledge.org\/?p=37803"},"modified":"2025-03-18T23:18:26","modified_gmt":"2025-03-18T23:18:26","slug":"public-knowledge-condemns-trumps-lawless-attack-on-ftc-independence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/publicknowledge.org\/public-knowledge-condemns-trumps-lawless-attack-on-ftc-independence\/","title":{"rendered":"Public Knowledge Condemns Trump\u2019s Lawless Attack on FTC Independence"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Today, President Donald Trump claimed to have terminated Democratic Commissioners<\/a> Rebecca Kelly Slaughter<\/a> and Alvaro Bedoya<\/a> at the Federal Trade Commission. This act violates both the statute that created the FTC and clear Supreme Court precedent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following can be attributed to Elise Phillips, Policy Counsel at Public Knowledge:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis reckless, new attempt to undermine a federal agency’s independence and bipartisan structure is flatly illegal \u2013 contrary to both the statute that created the FTC, and longstanding Supreme Court precedent \u2013 and will undoubtedly be overturned by the courts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis news cannot come as a surprise, as President Trump has demonstrated blatant hostility to the executive branch\u2019s independent agencies. From his attempted firing<\/a> of the National Labor Relations Board chair, to the firing<\/a> of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau chair, to his executive order<\/a> unlawfully stating that he has the power to terminate staff at independent commissions at will, President Trump is on a clear path that punishes political opponents and threatens his fellow party members should they prove disloyal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe judiciary, as a co-equal branch of government, has served as a check on this administration’s abuses of power. The Trump administration’s hostility toward both the courts and independent agencies serves only as further proof of this administration’s chronic lawbreaking and disregard for constitutional checks and balances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe FTC was designed explicitly as a bipartisan, independent agency to protect consumers from industry abuses, including unlawful mergers, price gouging, supply chain manipulation, and reduced product quality. Even FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson frequently highlights<\/a> the important role of minority commissioners, proudly citing his record of issuing dissenting opinions. It is shameful that he has cheered on the undermining of his own agency’s independence. Does he think President Biden should have fired him, given his clear disagreement with the administration\u2019s priorities? Does he see a meaningful role for Republican commissioners during a future Democratic administration? The hypocrisy is astounding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs Public Knowledge has previously stated<\/a>, the FTC must conduct business as it was designed \u2013 as a bipartisan, independent agency that addresses ongoing consumer harms like price gouging, supply chain shocks, and inferior product quality. We are confident that the courts will swiftly restore the FTC’s bipartisan structure, ensuring it continues to protect consumers from the harms caused by corporate consolidation and unchecked industry practices.\u201d

You may view our blog post, \u201cCompetition and Consumer Protection Need Reinforcements: Why the FTC Should Remain Independent,<\/a>\u201d for more information.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Today, President Donald Trump claimed to have terminated Democratic Commissioners Rebecca Kelly Slaughter and Alvaro Bedoya at the Federal Trade Commission. This act violates both the statute that created the FTC and clear Supreme Court precedent. The following can be attributed to Elise Phillips, Policy Counsel at Public Knowledge: \u201cThis reckless, new attempt to undermine […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":122,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[14],"class_list":["post-37803","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-press-release","tag-platform-regulation"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nPublic Knowledge Condemns Trump\u2019s Lawless Attack on FTC Independence - Public Knowledge<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Public Knowledge promotes freedom of expression, an open internet, and access to affordable communications tools and creative works. 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