{"id":2584413,"date":"2026-03-27T08:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-27T12:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ftc-chairman-compares-aba-to-communist-party-over-bias-concerns\/"},"modified":"2026-03-27T08:35:32","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T12:35:32","slug":"ftc-chairman-compares-aba-to-communist-party-over-bias-concerns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ftc-chairman-compares-aba-to-communist-party-over-bias-concerns\/","title":{"rendered":"FTC chairman compares ABA to communist party over bias concerns"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/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-chairman-compares-aba-to-communist-party-over-bias-concerns%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=2584413&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>A leading FTC commissioner sparked controversy by likening the American Bar Association to a \u201ccommunist party\u201d and accusing the group of pushing a far-left agenda through its influence over law schools and accreditation. The remarks came during a Federalist Society panel examining whether the ABA\u2019s long-standing role as the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >sole national law-school accreditor raises antitrust concerns<\/a> and affects state control over the legal profession.<\/p>\n<p>Key points:<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; The FTC commissioner, Andrew Ferguson, recalled his own ABA membership and argued the organization has become an unapologetic arm of the Democratic Party, urging that federal agencies should not lend credibility to it.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Critics argue that ABA accreditation concentrates control over who can practice law, with about 17 states tying bar eligibility to ABA-approved degrees, making alternative accreditation paths tough to develop.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; America First Legal released findings suggesting a liberal tilt in the ABA\u2019s amicus filings over the past decade,prompting calls for non-neutrality and competition in accreditation.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; The Trump administration and conservative legal groups have pressed to curb the ABA\u2019s influence; the Justice department has distanced itself from ABA-based nominee evaluations, and an executive order warned that accrediting bodies could lose federal recognition for discrimination.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Some states, notably Texas and Florida, are moving to decouple from ABA accreditation, exploring or embracing alternative routes for law-school accreditation and bar qualification.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; The ABA defends its centralized role,arguing it ensures quality and portability of degrees,while supporters say competition and diversity of pathways would better serve students and the profession.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; The controversy has intersected with other issues,including debates over religious liberty and the accreditation of faith-based schools,as seen in the Thomas More Law School case.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; The broader debate frames accreditation as both an antitrust and federalism issue, with ongoing political momentum for reform shaping the landscape of legal education.  <\/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 commissioner likens American Bar Association to &lsquo;communist party&rsquo; over far-left advocacy<\/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\">\n<p>The head of the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ftc\/\">Federal Trade Commission<\/a> under the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/trump-administration\/\">Trump administration<\/a> likened the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/american-bar-association\/\">American Bar Association<\/a> to the &ldquo;communist party&rdquo; on Thursday, accusing the powerful legal group of using its influence to advance a far-left agenda.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This is the equivalent of enrolling me in the Communist Party of America,&rdquo; FTC Commissioner Andrew Ferguson said, recounting how he was automatically signed up for ABA membership early in his legal career.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/education\/4503614\/high-school-students-traumatized-immigrant-allegedly-groped\/\">Virginia high school mom says students are &lsquo;traumatized&rsquo; by illegal immigrant who allegedly groped girls<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/education\/4497554\/congress-education-department-trump-executive-order\/\">Department of Education&#8217;s closure remains elusive one year after Trump executive order<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/education\/4499174\/culture-war-puts-national-women-museum-at-risk\/\">Culture war clash puts bill for women&rsquo;s history museum on National Mall at risk<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Ferguson on the ABA: &ldquo;This organization is extraordinarily dangerous&hellip; the equivalent of enrolling me in the Communist Party of America.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Says the group labeled even mainstream GOP judicial nominees &ldquo;unqualified&rdquo; with &ldquo;dangerous, radical views,&rdquo; and argued its role in shaping&hellip;<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Kaelan Deese (@KaelanDC) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/KaelanDC\/status\/2037207804595909087?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 26, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>    <\/p>\n<p>His remarks came during a broader discussion hosted by the Federalist Society&rsquo;s Young Lawyers Chapter about whether the ABA&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/harris-campaign-strategy-win-first-answer-questions-later-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Harris campaign strategy: Win first, answer questions later ... Washington Examiner\">long-standing control<\/a> over law school accreditation raises antitrust concerns and undermines state authority over the legal profession.<\/p>\n<p>For decades, the ABA has served as the primary accreditor of U.S. law schools. Because many states require graduation from an ABA-accredited institution to sit for the bar exam, many conservative critics argue the group effectively controls entry into the legal profession.<\/p>\n<p>Panelists, including <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/america-first-legal\/\">America First Legal<\/a> executive director Gene Hamilton, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/texas\/\">Texas<\/a> Deputy Attorney General Brent Webster, and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/florida\/\">Florida<\/a> Solicitor General Henry Whitaker, repeatedly questioned whether that authority has been exercised in a politically neutral manner.<\/p>\n<p>Citing a recent analysis by AFL, speakers said roughly 80% of the ABA&rsquo;s amicus briefs over the past decade advanced liberal-leaning positions, about 20% were neutral, and none supported conservative outcomes. In cases involving President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a> or his allies, the ABA sided against them every time it filed.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\/1&#128680;EXPOSED &mdash; AFL has released a report finding that 80% of the American Bar Association&rsquo;s filings from the last decade support leftist causes and lawfare against President Trump.<\/p>\n<p>The ABA is not a neutral arbiter and does not deserve to be treated like one. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/GHdAu2TkYn\">pic.twitter.com\/GHdAu2TkYn<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; America First Legal (@America1stLegal) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/America1stLegal\/status\/2037241424291250672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 26, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>    <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Whatever the ABA once was, it has become an unapologetic arm of the Democrat Party,&rdquo; Ferguson said, arguing that federal agencies should not &ldquo;lend credibility and prestige&rdquo; to the organization.<\/p>\n<p>The FTC has already taken steps to distance itself. Ferguson said he directed the agency to prohibit political appointees from joining the ABA, speaking at its events, or using government resources to participate in its activities.<\/p>\n<p>The criticism aligns with a broader push by the Trump administration to curtail the ABA&rsquo;s influence. The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\">Justice Department<\/a> has moved away from its traditional role working with the ABA on judicial nominee evaluations, citing concerns about bias, while <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/presidential-actions\/2025\/04\/reforming-accreditation-to-strengthen-higher-education\/\">an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/desantis-takes-on-critical-race-theory-teaching-kids-to-hate-their-country-not-worth-one-red-cent-of-taxpayer-money\/\" title=\"DeSantis Takes On Critical Race Theory: \u2018Teaching Kids To Hate Their Country\u2019 Not Worth \u2018One Red Cent Of Taxpayer Money\u2019\">executive order issued<\/a> last spring<\/a> warned that accrediting bodies engaging in unlawful discrimination could lose federal recognition.<\/p>\n<p>Conservative legal groups have also intensified scrutiny. A <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.heritage.org\/conservatism\/report\/how-break-the-american-bar-associations-accreditation-monopoly\">report released last year<\/a> by former and current <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/heritage-foundation\/\">Heritage Foundation<\/a> scholars GianCarlo Canaparo and Zack Smith argued the ABA &ldquo;has been politicized&rdquo; and now operates as an activist organization rather than a neutral standard-setter.<\/p>\n<p>The report highlighted the ABA&rsquo;s advocacy on issues such as abortion, affirmative action, and gender identity, as well as its position that the Equal Rights Amendment should be treated as ratified despite rejection by courts and federal archivists.<\/p>\n<p>More significantly, the report argued that the ABA&rsquo;s role as the sole nationally recognized law school accreditor allows it to impose ideological requirements on legal education, including diversity mandates that critics say conflict with federal law and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/supreme-court\/\">Supreme Court<\/a> precedent.<\/p>\n<p>A recent clash between the ABA and the religious&nbsp;Thomas More Law School in Florida exemplified the problem. There, the accreditation scrutiny centered on whether the school&rsquo;s Catholic teachings could conflict with ABA nondiscrimination standards on sexual orientation and gender identity. The ABA <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.law.com\/dailybusinessreview\/2026\/03\/11\/american-bar-association-drops-st-thomas-university-law-school-probe\/\">ultimately dropped<\/a> its inquiry into the school earlier this month after Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier denounced the investigation as discriminating against the school&rsquo;s religious values.<\/p>\n<p>At Thursday&rsquo;s standing-room panel, state officials described those concerns as already shaping policy decisions.<\/p>\n<p>Texas recently moved to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/legal\/government\/texas-becomes-first-state-end-aba-role-lawyer-admissions-2026-01-07\/\">decouple from ABA accreditation requirements<\/a>, allowing alternative pathways for law schools to qualify graduates for the bar. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.alligator.org\/article\/2026\/02\/florida-law-schools-won-t-need-american-bar-association-for-accreditation\">Florida has taken similar steps<\/a>, with officials signaling further reforms may follow.<\/p>\n<p>Ferguson and other speakers framed it as both an <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/antitrust\/\">antitrust<\/a> and federalism problem, warning that a single accreditor with no meaningful competition can distort the marketplace for legal education.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;If there&rsquo;s nowhere else to go, that organization will drift,&rdquo; Ferguson said, arguing the ABA&rsquo;s influence extends beyond cost to shaping &ldquo;which ideas are you required to be introduced to&rdquo; in law school.<\/p>\n<p>Critics also argue ABA accreditation rules contribute to rising costs by mandating faculty structures, facilities, and program requirements that limit innovation and competition.<\/p>\n<p>The ABA disputes those claims and maintains that its centralized role benefits students and the profession.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;An accreditor recognized by all states &mdash; which allows portability of law degrees &mdash; is in the best interests of law students, law schools, states, and the profession,&rdquo; Daniel Thies, chairman of the ABA&rsquo;s legal education council, told the <em>Washington Examiner <\/em>in a statement.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The Council has been recognized as this accreditor because it is committed to ensuring that lawyers receive a quality legal education so they can competently and ethically serve their clients and the public,&rdquo; Thies said. &ldquo;The consistent quality of Council-accredited schools and student outcomes is a testament to that commitment.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>He added that the ABA views its role as a &ldquo;privilege and an honor&rdquo; and intends to continue supporting the legal system nationwide.<\/p>\n<p>Still, momentum appears to be building among Republican-led states and federal officials to challenge that role.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4457907\/doj-antitrust-shake-up-reflects-effort-to-define-maga-antitrust-after-slater-exit\/\">DOJ ANTITRUST SHAKE-UP REFLECTS EFFORT TO DEFINE &lsquo;MAGA ANTITRUST&rsquo;<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>At least 17 states currently tie bar eligibility directly to ABA-accredited degrees, creating what critics describe as a self-reinforcing system that makes it difficult for alternative accrediting models to emerge.<\/p>\n<p>As more states explore breaking from that structure, the long-standing model of a single national gatekeeper for the legal profession is facing its most serious test in decades.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/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 chief calls ABA a communist party for leftist goals<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2584414,"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\/2026\/03\/AP26075740734713.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[51531,76642,75827,6945],"class_list":["post-2584413","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-aba","tag-bias-concerns","tag-communist-party-2","tag-ftc"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26075740734713.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2584413","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\/2633"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2584413"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2584413\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2584419,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2584413\/revisions\/2584419"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2584414"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2584413"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2584413"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2584413"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}