Lina Khan's FTC Tenure Concludes, Andrew Ferguson Appointed Chair

New FTC Leadership Announced

Andrew Ferguson, a Republican commissioner at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and one of two appointees made by U.S. President Joe Biden, has been designated as the next FTC chair. This announcement was made by incoming president Donald Trump via social media on Tuesday.

Reaction to the Appointment

The selection of Ferguson has been received positively by certain groups. Lina Khan, the current FTC Chair, has been attributed by many within Silicon Valley as a contributing factor to the slowdown in mergers and acquisitions (M&A).

Critics have pointed to the antitrust actions initiated by the agency under Khan’s direction, which commenced in June 2021, as a primary cause for concern.

Lina Khan's Perspective

In a June interview with TechCrunch, Khan responded to these criticisms. She argued that a competitive landscape with multiple potential acquirers – “six or seven or eight” – is more beneficial for startups seeking acquisition as an exit strategy than a market dominated by only one or two potential buyers.

Ferguson's Expected Approach

Prior to his role as an FTC commissioner, Ferguson served as a Congressional aide and a clerk at the Supreme Court. Donald Trump stated on Tuesday that Ferguson will be “the most America First, and pro-innovation FTC Chair” in the history of the United States.

He is expected to bring a different approach to the agency’s regulatory oversight.