One Agency Act

The "One Agency Act" proposes a significant restructuring of federal antitrust enforcement by consolidating all such functions under the Attorney General and the Department of Justice. The bill's stated purpose is to promote vigorous, effective, and efficient enforcement of antitrust laws by eliminating the perceived waste and uncertainty caused by the overlapping jurisdictions of the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission. Congress finds that a single entity is best suited for primary federal responsibility in this area, with the Department of Justice identified as that entity. Key provisions of the bill include the transfer of all FTC antitrust actions , employees, assets, and funding to the Attorney General, to be completed during a defined transition period. During this period, the FTC is prohibited from initiating new antitrust investigations or matters, and existing actions will be transferred or managed under the Attorney General's oversight. The Attorney General will also gain new authority to conduct investigative studies, require reports from businesses, and publish relevant information, while the FTC's role in antitrust enforcement will cease, except for specific, limited circumstances related to ongoing matters with the Attorney General's consent.