“Terminate Uncooperative Bureaucrats”: Trump Taps Andrew Ferguson for FTC Chair
(Commissioner Andrew Ferguson)
President-elect Donald Trump announced Tuesday his nomination of Federal Trade Commission (FTC) commissioner Andrew Ferguson as the next FTC Chair. The decision has drawn attention not only for Ferguson’s political leanings but for his unconventional campaign to secure the position.
Journalists and political experts were quick to weigh in, pointing out that Ferguson actively advocated for himself in a pitch that aligned closely with Trump’s MAGA agenda.
CNN chief media analyst Brian Stelter shared a copy of Ferguson’s pitch on social media, writing, “This was Andrew Ferguson’s pitch for the FTC chairman position, as scooped by @BenBrodyDC last week. Evidently it worked!”
Ferguson’s one-page proposal raised eyebrows for its bold promises. According to The American Prospect Executive Editor David Dayen, Ferguson vowed to “terminate uncooperative bureaucrats.” Dayen further noted, “The status quo corporatists who kicked up a firestorm over Lina Khan’s effect on agency ‘morale’ will probably overlook this.”
The top of the one-page resume reads:
Commissioner Ferguson is the America First, pro-innovation choice for Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission. Ferguson has impeccable legal credentials, proven loyalty to President Donald Trump, and a track record of standing up to Big Tech Censorship, DEI-wokeism, and the anti-business, anti-innovation agenda of the radical left. President Trump can designate Ferguson as Chairman of the FTC on Day 1 of the Trump Administration – no Senate confirmation is needed forsitting FTC Commissioners to become Chairman, and his term does not expire until 2030.
Aaron Fritschner, deputy chief of staff for Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA), also criticized Ferguson’s approach, highlighting its direct attack on current FTC Chair Lina Khan. “In an utterly predictable development, Trump’s just-announced nominee to lead FTC, Andrew Ferguson, got the job by sending Trump a pitch that led with a promise to ‘Reverse Lina Khan’s Anti-Business Agenda’ and ‘Stop Lina Khan’s war on mergers.’ But we’ll always have that idiotic discourse,” he remarked.
Andrew Ferguson will be the next FTC chair. He ran an unusual campaign for the position with a one-page resume that included a vow to "terminate uncooperative bureaucrats." The status quo corporatists who kicked up a firestorm over Lina Khan's effect on agency "morale" will probably overlook this
— David Dayen (@ddayen.bsky.social) December 11, 2024 at 4:36 AM
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Ferguson’s pitch appeared to strike a chord with Trump, who has frequently criticized Khan’s leadership and anti-monopoly efforts during her tenure. Khan, appointed under President Joe Biden, has been a vocal advocate for aggressive antitrust enforcement, leading efforts to challenge corporate mergers and crack down on tech monopolies.
After Trump’s official announcement, Ferguson expressed gratitude via X, writing, “Thank you, President Trump. Under your leadership, American businesses will become stronger and more competitive, and will better serve workers and consumers, than ever before. I’m honored that you’ve chosen me to be FTC Chairman in your mission to make our country great again.”
The nomination signals Trump’s intent to overhaul the FTC, shifting its focus toward a more business-friendly agenda. Critics argue Ferguson’s promises to reverse Khan’s initiatives could undermine efforts to regulate corporate power and protect consumers. Supporters, however, view the move as a step toward reducing regulatory burdens on businesses.
In an utterly predictable development, Trump’s just-announced nominee to lead FTC, Andrew Ferguson, got the job by sending Trump a pitch that led with a promise to “Reverse Lina Khan’s Anti-Business Agenda” and “Stop Lina Khan’s war on mergers.” But we’ll always have that idiotic discourse
— Aaron Fritschner (@fritschner.bsky.social) December 11, 2024 at 5:15 AM
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As the nomination heads toward Senate confirmation, Ferguson’s outspoken stance and unorthodox pitch are likely to face intense scrutiny, setting the stage for yet another contentious political battle over the future of the FTC.
