A PYMNTS Company

White House Weighs Michael Murray for Top Antitrust Role at Justice Department

By  |  April 16, 2026

The White House is considering attorney Michael Murray, a former Trump administration official, to lead antitrust enforcement at the US Justice Department, according to people familiar with the matter, according to Bloomberg.

    Get the Full Story

    Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required.

    yesSubscribe to our daily newsletter, PYMNTS Today.

    By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.

    Murray, currently a partner at Paul Hastings LLC, previously served as a deputy assistant attorney general for antitrust between 2018 and 2020. Earlier in his career, he worked as a staffer for former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. If selected, he would replace Gail Slater, who was removed from the role in February after less than a year amid disagreements over merger policy, according to Bloomberg.

    No final decision has been made regarding the appointment, per Bloomberg. The position is currently held by Acting Assistant Attorney General Omeed Assefi, who is expected to step down once a permanent replacement is confirmed, according to one of the people familiar with the process.

    The timing of any nomination may depend on broader leadership changes within the Justice Department. According to Bloomberg, the White House is expected to first nominate a new attorney general following the recent dismissal of Pam Bondi by President Donald Trump. Todd Blanche is currently serving as the acting head of the department. Requests for comment from the White House and the Justice Department were not immediately returned, while Murray declined to comment.

    During his tenure in the first Trump administration, Murray played a role in the Justice Department’s appeal of its unsuccessful attempt to block AT&T Inc.’s acquisition of Time Warner. The case has renewed relevance as assets tied to the deal are again in play amid ongoing industry consolidation, according to Bloomberg.

    More recently, Murray has been active in private practice, helping guide over $65 billion in transactions through antitrust review in 2025, according to his law firm, per Bloomberg. His work included advising on American Express Global Business Travel Group Inc.’s acquisition of CWT Holdings, a deal initially challenged by the Biden administration but later dropped under Trump officials. He also represented semiconductor firm Groq in a $20 billion agreement involving Nvidia Corp.

    Supporters of Murray point to his experience within the Justice Department as a key strength. “He’s a perfect candidate for this job,” said Andrew Finch, a former acting antitrust chief early in Trump’s first term. “He understands how the DOJ works, how the division works. I expect him to be very much in favor of a predictable business climate.”

    If confirmed by the Senate, Murray would take over an antitrust division facing significant staffing challenges. According to Bloomberg, a number of senior officials and litigators have departed since the start of the year, coinciding with a shift in enforcement strategy toward settlements rather than prolonged legal battles. Leadership turnover has been particularly pronounced, with all seven heads of the agency’s civil antitrust units leaving their positions.

    Despite filing an early merger challenge at the start of the new administration, the Justice Department has not brought additional cases against corporate deals. However, it has pursued litigation against two hospital systems—one in New York and another in Ohio—accusing them of imposing overly restrictive contracts on insurers.

    Related: Bloomberg