Antitrust law enforcement transition signals changes in the U.S. Department of Justice

2026-03-02 22:07:24

Abstract generation in progress

Abigail Slater, head of the Antitrust Division at the U.S. Department of Justice, announced her departure this week, signaling a possible shift in the enforcement strategy of antitrust laws during the Trump administration. After pressure from the White House for her resignation, Slater issued a formal statement on social media, leaving open critical questions about how the government intends to conduct competition policy in the coming periods.

When Trump appointed Slater to the position in December 2025, many analysts saw the move as a continuation of the strict stance adopted by the previous Biden administration regarding merger oversight. However, significant disagreements began to emerge within the agency about how to apply antitrust laws to large-scale business transactions.

Internal conflicts over merger enforcement

Internal tensions became evident in recent decisions on major deals. When Slater and her competition lawyers recommended a thorough review of the acquisition of Anywhere Real Estate by Compass, the Department of Justice chose to approve the transaction, diverging from the technical guidance provided. This pattern of disagreement was also observed in the case involving Juniper Networks and Hewlett Packard Enterprise, leading to the dismissal of two senior antitrust division staff.

Cases under review and the future of competition policy

Currently, the division continues to monitor disputes related to streaming rights, particularly the acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery involving Netflix and Paramount Global. These cases highlight the importance of antitrust law in strategic sectors of the digital economy.

Slater’s departure raises questions about the future prioritization of antitrust enforcement in a context where the administration may adopt different criteria for evaluating economic concentration acts. The upcoming appointments to the division will be crucial in determining whether competition policy will maintain its previous rigor or follow a more permissive approach.

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