In a sudden power shift, Trump’s removal of two Democratic FTC commissioners has ushered in a new era of regulatory friendliness toward Big Tech. Chairman Andrew Ferguson’s appointment signals the end of Lina Khan’s aggressive antitrust crusade, leaving major tech companies breathing easier about potential mergers. Ongoing investigations into Meta, Amazon, and Microsoft are now collecting dust. The dramatic transformation from tech’s biggest nightmare to newest ally reveals an agency plot twist that’s still unfolding.
After years of battling Big Tech, the Federal Trade Commission has done a complete 180-degree turn.
In a stunning reversal, the FTC has shifted from Big Tech’s biggest nightmare to its newest ally overnight.
President Trump’s dramatic removal of two Democratic commissioners on March 18, 2025, has transformed the agency’s approach to regulating tech giants.
Gone are the days of Lina Khan’s aggressive antitrust crusade.
The new sheriff in town, Chairman Andrew Ferguson, isn’t exactly losing sleep over mega-mergers.
Ferguson, who spent his previous FTC stint writing novels worth of dissents against Khan’s policies, now leads a trio of Republican commissioners who are decidedly more merger-friendly.
Talk about a plot twist.
The same guy who promised to “Stop Lina Khan’s war on mergers” is now calling the shots.
Big Tech executives must be breaking out the champagne.
But here’s where things get interesting.
The new HSR rules now require companies to submit more detailed information for merger reviews.
Major cases against tech giants are suddenly up in the air.
Meta’s trial over its WhatsApp and Instagram acquisitions? Uncertain.
Amazon’s investigation for allegedly inflating prices? Who knows.
Microsoft’s AI dominance probe? Stay tuned.
Some cases are already collecting dust while the new regime settles in.
The Biden administration’s strict merger guidelines technically remain in effect, but don’t hold your breath.
Ferguson’s FTC is showing a newfound love for settlements instead of structural breakups.
They’re talking about “streamlining” merger reviews – corporate speak for “making life easier for big companies.”
Critics say the FTC’s new obsession will be investigating “wokeness” and social media censorship rather than protecting competition.
Meanwhile, tech companies that were tiptoeing around acquisitions are likely drawing up their shopping lists.
The removal of Democratic commissioners – though legally contested – has eliminated the deadlock that prevented major policy shifts.
Former Commissioner Bedoya and Slaughter have filed lawsuits claiming the dismissals were corruption, plain and simple.
Sure, the FTC claims it’ll keep an eye on Big Tech, healthcare, and agriculture.
The market makers are closely monitoring these regulatory changes as they maintain liquidity in tech stocks.
But with Ferguson at the helm, the days of aggressive antitrust enforcement look about as dead as a dial-up modem.
Welcome to the new era of regulatory friendliness.
