President-elect Donald Trump has named Federal Trade Commissioner Andrew Ferguson to lead the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), highlighting a shift toward a more conservative and "pro-innovation" approach at the consumer protection and antitrust agency. Trump announced the appointment on Truth Social, calling Ferguson "the most America First, and pro-innovation FTC Chair in our Country's History." Ferguson, a Republican FTC commissioner appointed by President Joe Biden, has been outspoken about combating perceived Big Tech censorship and protecting free speech online.

Trump also plans to nominate Mark Meador, a partner at Kressin Meador Powers and former antitrust counsel to Senator Mike Lee, as an FTC commissioner, replacing Lina Khan, whose term has expired. Ferguson, formerly Virginia's solicitor general, has advocated investigating platforms accused of suppressing conservative viewpoints or engaging in anticompetitive practices, stating that such actions could violate U.S. antitrust laws. He has pledged to enforce these laws vigorously to ensure free exchange of ideas.

Ferguson inherits a range of cases, including lawsuits against Big Tech companies, pharmacy benefit managers, and Amazon over its marketplace practices. His leadership could signal a shift in the FTC's direction, particularly in ongoing cases like Meta’s acquisition of Instagram and WhatsApp and privacy concerns involving AI companies such as OpenAI. Critics have argued that the FTC, under Democratic leadership, has overreached in its enforcement actions, a stance Ferguson has echoed.

Trump’s broader antitrust strategy also includes naming Gail Slater to lead the Department of Justice’s antitrust division, which oversees major cases against Google. These appointments reflect the incoming administration’s emphasis on revisiting and potentially reshaping antitrust enforcement to align with conservative values and priorities.