In an interview with FTC Watch, Partner Daniel Kaufman discusses the impact that the addition of two Republican nominees could have on the Federal Trade Commission, currently made up of three Democratic commissioners and no Republicans.
Some conflict among commissioners is expected, if Melissa Holyoak and Andrew Ferguson are confirmed to join the FTC, according to “Holyoak, Ferguson could change FTC dynamics but face steep learning curve,” an article published by FTC Watch on Sept. 19 (subscription required).
“Some in the antitrust bar in Washington, D.C., expect the Republicans to be noisy in any disagreements they have,” according to the article. “They are not expected to be supportive of the Democrats’ plans for new rulemaking on either the competition or privacy side of the FTC.”
For their part, Democrats are likely to be open to compromise, Kaufman tells FTC Watch. “The majority doesn’t want to have strongly worded dissents that question what the FTC is doing,” he says.