Jonathan Kanter, the head of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division, announced on Tuesday that he will step down from his position, concluding a dynamic three-year tenure focused on reshaping competition law in the United States. Kanter, who has been a prominent figure in the Biden administration’s efforts to reinvigorate antitrust enforcement, will officially leave his post on Friday.
Kanter’s leadership, alongside that of Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan, marked a significant shift in the nation’s approach to antitrust regulation. Together, they have worked to restore the robust enforcement of antitrust laws, which critics had argued had been weakened over decades. Their efforts have gained support from progressive Democrats and a number of Republicans, who share concerns over the growing dominance of major corporations in key sectors.
In his farewell address, Kanter emphasized the importance of strong antitrust measures to protect individual freedoms and promote fair competition. “Plutocracy is its own kind of dictatorship,” Kanter stated. “When companies larger and more powerful than most world governments threaten individual liberty with coercive private taxation and regulation, it threatens our way of life.”
Despite his achievements, Kanter and Khan have faced opposition from some business groups and legal experts who argue for a return to more traditional antitrust policies. These critics assert that the more aggressive enforcement policies introduced under the Biden administration risk overregulating the market and stifling economic growth.
However, the future of antitrust enforcement remains uncertain, with President-elect Donald Trump’s team unlikely to backpedal on efforts to scrutinize corporate power. Incoming Vice President JD Vance has appointed Gail Slater, an advisor with strong views on corporate accountability, to succeed Kanter upon her confirmation.
Until that transition, Kanter’s deputy, Doha Mekki, will lead the Antitrust Division. Kanter’s departure marks the end of a transformative era in U.S. antitrust policy, but his work has set the stage for continued scrutiny of corporate monopolies and mergers.
Under Kanter’s leadership, the DOJ brought high-profile cases against tech giants like Apple and Google, as well as other major corporations including Ticketmaster and Visa. His team also blocked significant mergers, such as the proposed $3.8 billion JetBlue-American Airlines deal and the $2.2 billion merger between Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster.
Kanter’s tenure also brought a major legal victory against Google, in a landmark case challenging the company’s dominance in online search, which was filed during the Trump administration.
In his parting remarks, Kanter stressed the continued challenges ahead for the Antitrust Division. He warned that without full access to funding from merger filing fees, the DOJ’s ability to carry out its vital antitrust work could be under threat.
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