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Wave of Departures Hits Justice Department’s Antitrust Division

By  |  April 8, 2026

A group of senior attorneys is exiting the US Justice Department’s antitrust division, including its top courtroom litigator and several lawyers involved in high-profile cases against major corporations such as Live Nation Entertainment, Apple, and Alphabet Google, according to Bloomberg.

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    The resignations come during a period of broader turnover across the department that began after the start of the Trump administration in January 2025. Thousands of experienced prosecutors have either left voluntarily or been dismissed. While the antitrust division initially avoided the scale of cuts seen elsewhere, internal divisions have surfaced more recently. Earlier this year, Gail Slater, the administration’s antitrust chief, departed following disagreements over how aggressively to pursue merger enforcement.

    According to Bloomberg, frustration has intensified inside the antitrust unit following a sudden settlement in the government’s case against Live Nation. The agreement, reached March 9, resolved allegations that the company monopolized the live events industry. The decision was made shortly after a federal jury trial began in New York and, notably, without consultation from the trial team handling the case. Even the lead counsel was reportedly caught off guard.

    The terms of the settlement allowed Live Nation to retain Ticketmaster and did not require a breakup of the company. The outcome also surprised state partners involved in the lawsuit. More than 30 states chose to continue litigating the matter independently, with proceedings nearing completion, per Bloomberg.

    Related: States Press Ahead With Live Nation Antitrust Trial After Federal Settlement

    At the center of the recent departures is David Dahlquist, the acting director of civil antitrust litigation. He announced during a court hearing in the government’s ongoing case against Google that he would be leaving the department. “I have given my notice,” Dahlquist said, while introducing another official who will take over the litigation. He did not elaborate on the reasons for his decision.

    Dahlquist, who joined the Justice Department in August 2022, had been closely involved in several major cases, including the Live Nation lawsuit and a 2025 proceeding addressing remedies in the Google search monopoly case, according to Bloomberg.

    Some officials have pushed back on suggestions that the Live Nation settlement alone triggered the resignations. A Justice Department representative said the departures reflect a mix of professional opportunities and concerns about job stability, including anxiety stemming from a six-week period last year when federal employees were not paid during a government shutdown.

    The shift in personnel also coincides with a broader change in enforcement strategy. Under former President Joe Biden, antitrust enforcement was a key economic focus, with the Justice Department filing a historically high number of cases, including numerous monopolization claims. More recently, however, the department has opted to resolve several of those cases through settlements and has not challenged any mergers since early 2025, according to Bloomberg.

    Source: Bloomberg