Key facts
- The House Energy and Commerce Committee is seeking input on potential reforms for the FTC.
- The committee is examining the FTC's structure, investigative and enforcement processes, budget, operations, and staffing.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee is soliciting expert opinions on potential reforms for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), examining its structure, investigative processes, and rulemaking authority, particularly concerning data privacy.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee's review could lead to significant changes in the FTC's structure and powers, impacting its ability to regulate data privacy, enforce antitrust laws, and protect consumers.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee has initiated a review of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), seeking public input on potential reforms to ensure the agency's structure and authorities remain effective. The committee's request for information (RFI) covers a broad range of FTC operations, including its composition of five bipartisan commissioners, investigative and enforcement procedures, budget, and staffing capabilities.
A specific focus of the RFI is the FTC's rulemaking authority, with particular attention paid to its efforts concerning data privacy protections, such as the "commercial surveillance" rulemaking in 2022. The deadline for submitting responses to the committee is September 28.
Douglas Farrar, who previously served as the FTC's director of public affairs under the Biden administration, criticized the RFI, labeling its process as "closed-door" and suggesting it may be an avenue for corporate lobbyists to weaken the agency. Farrar stated that the FTC is a crucial protector of American families against "data-driven price gouging."
This review occurs in the context of the Supreme Court's decision in Trump v. Slaughter, which, in June, granted President Donald Trump expanded authority over executive branch agencies. This follows his reported actions in March 2025 to dismiss all of the FTC's Democratic commissioners.