Trump taps FTC Commissioner Andrew Ferguson to chair agency

President-elect Trump has tapped Andrew Ferguson, a commissioner at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), as the next head of the independent agency.

Trump, in a statement Tuesday night, touted Ferguson's hard-line approach toward protecting free speech and what the president-elect described as Big Tech's "censorship" of certain views.

"Andrew has a proven record of standing up to Big Tech censorship, and protecting Freedom of Speech in our Great Country," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "Andrew will be the most America First and pro-innovation FTC Chair in our Country's history."

Ferguson will be taking over for current FTC Chair Lina Khan, who led the Biden administration's aggressive antitrust push. Her approach prompted heavy scrutiny from Wall Street and Silicon Valley for blocking what she views as anticompetitive mergers and for going after corporate giants for alleged anticompetitive practices.

The president-elect pointed out Ferguson, who most recently served as solicitor general of Virginia, was an antitrust litigator at various Washington law firms. He also served as Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell's (Ky.) former chief counsel.

Ferguson thanked Trump for the appointment Tuesday evening. 

"Under your leadership, American businesses will become stronger and more competitive, and will better serve workers and consumers, than ever before," Ferguson wrote on X. "I’m honored that you’ve chosen me to be FTC Chairman in your mission to make our country great again."

While it remains to be seen if he will take a lighter approach to antitrust enforcement, his experience signals he could continue the scrutiny large tech companies have faced over the past four years.

In a statement earlier this month, Ferguson called for the prosecution of any "unlawful collusion" between online platforms that might limit speech.

"We must vigorously enforce the antitrust laws against any platforms found to be unlawfully limiting Americans' ability to exchange ideas freely and openly," Ferguson said.

He reiterated parts of this Tuesday, writing the FTC will "end Big Tech's vendetta against competition and free speech." 

Ferguson was appointed by President Biden and sworn in as a commissioner last April. His nomination was held up by Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) earlier this year.

Including Ferguson, the FTC's five commissioners are currently made up of three Democrats and two Republicans. No more than three commissioners can be of the same political party at the same time.

Ferguson will be able to assume the role of FTC chair on Inauguration Day next month since he already serves on the commission.

Trump also announced Tuesday he selected Mark Meador, a partner at an antitrust law firm, to be a commissioner at the FTC.

Meador previously served as deputy chief counsel for antitrust and competition policy to Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), the senior Republican on the Senate Judiciary subcommittee focused on antitrust efforts.

Updated 8:45 p.m. EDT