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DOJ and FTC Submit Over 125 Rules for White House Review as ‘Anti-Competitive’

By  |  September 17, 2025

More than 125 federal regulations viewed as harmful to competition have been flagged for potential elimination or revision, according to information obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation. The effort follows an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in April, which instructed federal agencies, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) chairman, and the Attorney General to identify rules that hinder “competition, entrepreneurship, and innovation.”

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    According to AOL, the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched an Anticompetitive Regulations Task Force in March, inviting public feedback on rules that limit opportunities for “consumers, workers and businesses.” The DOJ’s Antitrust Division, alongside the FTC, then worked with agencies to compile a list of regulations that critics say suppress market access.

    Among the rules submitted for White House consideration are Department of Transportation policies granting contracting preferences to firms owned by “socially and economically disadvantaged individuals,” a requirement the FTC argued in a letter may raise costs or reduce quality in federally funded projects. The list also flagged Department of Education rules allowing universities to fold textbook and supply costs into tuition, as well as Consumer Product Safety Commission requirements for finger-detection technology in table saws. Additionally, certain Department of Agriculture rules for grazing permits were cited as barriers for young ranchers seeking entry into the market.

    Per a statement, FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson noted that entrenched firms sometimes use the regulatory process to secure advantages at the expense of new competitors. He emphasized that the final decision on whether to rescind or narrow these rules will rest with the President, acting through the Office of Management and Budget and the relevant agencies.

    The Department of Justice confirmed the initiative in an announcement on Tuesday, highlighting its collaboration with the FTC in carrying out the executive order. According to a statement, the Antitrust Division coordinated a government-wide review to identify regulations that “distort markets and stifle competition.” The agency stressed that regulations should not serve to exclude new entrants, and that dismantling such barriers is essential to fostering free enterprise.

    “This effort reflects months of work by DOJ and FTC staff, along with input from agencies across the government,” Ferguson wrote in his letter to the Office of Management and Budget. The submission represents one of the most extensive attempts in recent years to reshape federal regulations in line with the administration’s market-driven agenda.

    Source: Justice Gov