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President Donald Trump has dismissed the only two Democrats on the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), paving the way for him to reshape the independent regulatory agency with loyalists, the White House confirmed.
FTC commissioners Alvaro Bedoya and Rebecca Kelly Slaughter were removed from their positions, a White House official told reporters on condition of anonymity. The FTC, established over a century ago, is responsible for protecting consumers from deceptive or unfair business practices.
Bedoya reacted swiftly, calling the move “corruption, plain and simple” in a post on X (formerly Twitter) and vowing legal action. “The president just illegally fired me. See you in court,” he wrote.
The dismissals come amid a broader government shake-up under Trump, who has aggressively pushed to consolidate power since taking office in January. His administration created a new Department of Government Efficiency, led by billionaire Elon Musk, a key campaign donor and senior advisor.
The shake-up raises questions about the future of antitrust cases against Big Tech, including ongoing lawsuits against Amazon, Google, Apple, and Meta (Facebook’s parent company)—cases pursued under both Trump and former President Joe Biden.
FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson, appointed by Trump, has publicly stated that cases against Amazon and Meta will move forward. However, concerns remain about whether the administration will soften its stance on Big Tech, given the growing ties between Trump and tech billionaires.
Since Trump’s election victory, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has made major policy shifts, including ending U.S. fact-checking on Facebook and appointing Trump ally Dana White to Meta’s board.
Amazon’s Jeff Bezos has also made moves to align with Trump, including directing The Washington Post to tone down criticism of the administration.
Billionaires Musk, Bezos, and other tech leaders were given prominent roles at Trump’s January inauguration, with several making million-dollar donations to the event’s organizing committee.
With Trump now free to install his picks at the FTC, the agency’s role in regulating corporate power and enforcing consumer protections could face a major transformation.
