The U.S. House Energy & Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Innovation, Data & Commerce held a hearing on Tuesday, July 9, regarding the 2025 Federal Trade Commission (FTC) budget that also delved into congressional oversight of the agency following the U.S. Supreme Court decision that overruled the Chevron case in June. According to the press release from the Energy & Commerce Committee:
“House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce Chair Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) delivered the following opening remarks at today’s subcommittee hearing titled “The Fiscal Year 2025 Federal Trade Commission Budget.”
“Unlike last year, this hearing will feature the full slate of all five FTC Commissioners’ testimonies, and I want to welcome the two newest commissioners, Andrew Ferguson and Melissa Holyoak.
“Thank you both for serving and being here. I look forward to hearing how you plan to balance out the perspective and representation of the FTC as it protects consumers.
“Unfortunately, up until this year, the Commission has lost its balanced approach.
“Since being confirmed over three years ago, Chair Khan has taken an aggressive stance towards the use of its authorities, leading to internal discord.
“Employee staff morale fell from 83 percent in 2020 down to 53 percent last year. I’m afraid it has lost its roots as a well-respected bipartisan law enforcement agency focused on protecting against bad actors.
“Despite restraints on statutory authority, the FTC has plowed forward out of bounds with sweeping new rulemakings, attempting to create policy in the process.
“Most notably the Commission’s ‘Commercial Surveillance and Data Security’ Proposed Rulemaking is an overreach and raises significant legal concerns.”
“I was hopeful that today could be a new start, but I worry that releasing actions of the Commission less than two hours before this hearing commences is not a positive sign for transparency of the work you are engaged in.
“For instance, on pharmacy benefit managers, there is no way for either side of the dais here to analyze the interim report announced this morning, moreover, have a broader view on whether this means the Biden administration has failed to address this issue broadly at HHS.”
To continue reading the full press release, click here.
