FTC Chair Ferguson Ends DEI Policies and Halts Public Input on Key Consumer Issues

Andrew Ferguson's early actions as FTC chair prioritize compliance with Trump's DEI ban while sidelining public engagement on corporate pricing and worker protections.

• Andrew Ferguson, the new FTC chair appointed by President Trump, gained authority to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies across the agency following a vote on Thursday.
• Democratic Commissioners Lina Khan and Rebecca Slaughter abstained from the vote, while Commissioner Alvaro Bedoya opposed, criticizing the focus on DEI over pressing consumer and economic issues.
• Ferguson also shut down public comment opportunities on topics including corporate surveillance pricing, illegal business practices, and protections for small businesses and workers.
• Critics, including Bedoya, argue that Ferguson's actions ignore key challenges like rising costs of living and monopolistic practices, which were central to the FTC's previous agenda.
• Ferguson defended his decisions as aligning with Trump's executive orders, emphasizing the President's campaign promise to end DEI initiatives in federal agencies.

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