Coalition Urges Members To Zero In On Abuse Of Power Allegations
WASHINGTON – Ahead of Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Lina Khan’s appearance before the House Judiciary Committee, the Competitiveness Coalition released today seven questions that lawmakers should ask the activist chair, with a focus on the egregious overreach and abuse of power allegations.
“Under Chair Lina Khan, the FTC has become a renegade political operation run amok,” stated Scott Brown, chair of the Competitiveness Coalition. “Between the complete disregard for authoritative boundaries, alleged collusion with EU regulators and plummeting staff morale, it’s long past time for Khan to be held accountable for her destructive and misguided agenda.”
Earlier this week, the Coalition submitted a formal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) records request on matters involving the agency’s purported collusion with European regulators.
Questions members of the House Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government should ask FTC Chair Khan are as follows:
- Collusion with EU regulators. While the U.S. battles to retain its competitive edge, the FTC is sending staff to Brussels to help implement the Digital Markets Act – why are you working with foreign governments to hamstring U.S. companies amidst pleas for increased funding?
- Sinking employee morale. Once ranked as one of the top federal agencies to work at, the FTC has plummeted to No. 22 with senior staff attorneys fleeing the agency at an alarming rate under your leadership – how do you account for the concerning decline that has taken place under your watch and do you take any responsibility?
- Lack of system controls. The FTC’s Office of Inspector General 2022 audit found that the agency’s audacious use of unpaid, high-level consultants lacked a system of controls – how do you explain the operational, legal, compliance and security risks of using such consultants for influential projects?
- Calls for resignation. How do you respond to calls for your resignation from The Washington Times editorial board and others that argue you are abusing power in the chairman’s office?
- Ignoring ethics recommendations. Can you explain your decision to ignore the advice of the FTC’s Designated Agency Ethics Official to recuse yourself from the commission’s review of Meta’s proposed acquisition of Within Unlimited?
- Internal red flags. The last remaining Republican FTC Commissioner said that in order “to advance the progressive agenda,” you have “breached” your “ethical obligations” – what is your response?
- Overstepping authority. The FTC allegedly deleted key documents containing details about its controversial noncompete ban – does the Commission’s proposed rule step outside the bounds of its jurisdiction?
For over a year, the Competitiveness Coalition has been sounding the alarm on the FTC’s egregious overreach and concerning actions. For more information on the Coalition’s work on this front, please visit competitivenesscoalition.com. Members of the press can contact the coalition at press@competitivenesscoalition.com.
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The Competitiveness Coalition is a first-of-its-kind group educating the public and advocating for policies that put consumers first while fostering innovation and attracting new investment.