ANALYSIS: FTC May Be Headed Into Deadlock, Delaying Big Deals

The Federal Trade Commission may be about to pause, unable to act on antitrust enforcement and policy until President Biden’s nominee can be confirmed and seated.

On Oct. 8, Federal Trade Commissioner Rohit Chopra is stepping down to take up his new position as head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Because it takes a majority among the Commissioners present to conduct business, and because the remaining commissioners will be split 2-2 between Democrat and Republican appointees, the Commission may find itself sitting on its hands until an equally divided Senate can approve privacy expert Alvaro Bedoya, whom Biden ...