{"id":2403873,"date":"2025-02-18T15:59:02","date_gmt":"2025-02-18T20:59:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ftc-maintains-biden-era-merger-guidelines-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-02-18T16:00:53","modified_gmt":"2025-02-18T21:00:53","slug":"ftc-maintains-biden-era-merger-guidelines-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ftc-maintains-biden-era-merger-guidelines-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"FTC maintains Biden-era merger guidelines &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fftc-maintains-biden-era-merger-guidelines-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2403873&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Federal Trade Commission\u2062 (FTC) Chairman Andrew Ferguson announced that the commission will\u2064 maintain the merger guidelines established during the Biden administration in 2023. these guidelines, originally updated under FTC Chairwoman Lina Khan, adopt a more aggressive\u2064 approach to antitrust enforcement \u2064regarding mergers. Ferguson affirmed that these guidelines will continue\u200d to serve as the framework for \u2062<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/antitrust-efforts-to-break-up-big-tech-pass-first-hurdle-house-committee-approves-move\/\" title=\"... Efforts To Break Up Big Tech Pass First Hurdle, House Committee Approves Move\">merger reviews<\/a>,emphasizing \u200dthe importance of stability in enforcement and the need for careful consideration before making any revisions.<\/p>\n<p>In a\u2063 memo \u2064to FTC \u200dstaff, Ferguson highlighted that while the 2023\u2064 guidelines are not perfect, they will remain in effect unless future experiences suggest changes are necessary. \u200bUnder Biden\u2019s\u200b administration, several significant mergers were blocked, such as those between JetBlue and Spirit Airlines \u200band Albertsons \u2064and Kroger.<\/p>\n<p>Looking ahead, there are indications that a potential second Trump \u200cadministration may adopt \u200ba more aggressive stance on business and antitrust issues, even though the\u200d exact direction remains unclear \u2063due to\u200b mixed signals. The commission currently has a bipartisan\u2063 split of 2-2,following Khan&#8217;s departure after Trump took office.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">FTC maintains Biden-era merger guidelines<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1924698\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ftc\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Federal Trade Commission\">Federal Trade Commission<\/a> Chairman Andrew Ferguson announced that the commission would retain the same merger guidelines established in 2023 under the Biden administration.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The guidelines were <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/2568904\/doj-and-ftc-update-guidelines-for-reviewing-mergers-as-part-of-antitrust-crackdown\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"updated\">updated<\/a> in 2023 under Biden-era FTC Chairwoman Lina Khan and had a more aggressive approach to antitrust in their guidance for companies when considering mergers. The FTC, now led by Ferguson, said on Tuesday that the 2023 guidelines for mergers are &ldquo;in effect and will serve as the framework for the FTC&rsquo;s merger-review analysis.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Stability is good for the enforcement agencies.&nbsp;The wholesale rescission and reworking of guidelines is time consuming and expensive,&rdquo; Ferguson said in a statement.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We should undertake this process sparingly.&nbsp;We have limited resources to patrol the beat and <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">constant turnover undermines agency credibility<\/a>,&rdquo; he added.<\/p>\n<p>In a memorandum sent to FTC staff, Ferguson noted that it is not unusual for guidance to remain unchanged from administration to administration and said that while there is &ldquo;good reason to retain them,&rdquo; they are not perfect.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;That is not to say that the 2023 Merger Guidelines are perfect. No guidelines are perfect. If experience teaches that revisions are appropriate, then the agencies can consider revisions as they have done in the past,&rdquo; the memo said. &ldquo;For the foreseeable future, and until any such revisions are adopted, the FTC will use the 2023 Merger Guidelines as the framework to do our important merger-enforcement work.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Under the Biden-era FTC, several mergers were blocked, including proposed mergers between JetBlue and Spirit Airlines and Albertsons and Kroger.<\/p>\n<p>Early signs seem to indicate the second Trump administration&rsquo;s stance toward business and antitrust will be more aggressive, but mixed messaging has made it <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/premium\/3272727\/what-will-antitrust-enforcement-look-like-under-trump-2-0\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"unclear\">unclear<\/a> if the second Trump term would be a continuation of the Biden administration&rsquo;s aggressive antitrust policies.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Vice President JD Vance and Khan had come to an agreement on some of the aggressive actions on big business, while Ferguson, who was picked by President Donald Trump as FTC chairman, previously called Khan &ldquo;anti-business.&rdquo; Khan stepped down from the commission shortly after Trump entered office.<\/p>\n<p>The commission is bipartisan by design, with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-taking-regeneron-drug-remdesivir-therapy-for-coronavirus-diagnosis-ex-wh-doctor-explains\/\" title=\"... taking Regeneron drug, Remdesivir therapy for coronavirus diagnosis: ex-WH doctor explains\">president&#038;rsquo<\/a>;s party usually in a 3-2 majority, but it is currently split 2-2.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1924698\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1924698\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>FTC keeps 2023 merger guidelines from Biden administration<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2638,"featured_media":2403874,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/ftc-merger-guidlines-remaining.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[5509,32502,6945,50605,32076],"class_list":["post-2403873","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-antitrust","tag-biden-administration","tag-ftc","tag-merger-guidelines","tag-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/ftc-merger-guidlines-remaining.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2403873","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2638"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2403873"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2403873\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2403877,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2403873\/revisions\/2403877"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2403874"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2403873"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2403873"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2403873"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}