The "One Agency Act" proposes a significant restructuring of federal antitrust enforcement by transferring all such responsibilities from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to the Department of Justice (DOJ). Congress finds that the current overlapping jurisdiction between these two agencies leads to wasted taxpayer resources, hampers enforcement efforts, and creates uncertainty for businesses and consumers. Therefore, the bill asserts that the DOJ is better suited to be the single primary federal entity for enforcing antitrust laws. Under this legislation, all FTC antitrust actions , including investigations, litigation, and administrative proceedings, along with relevant employees, assets, and funding, would be transferred to the Attorney General. The Attorney General is tasked with managing this transition, which can last up to one year with a possible extension, and is authorized to restructure the DOJ's Antitrust Division to efficiently carry out these new responsibilities. During the transition, the FTC would be prohibited from initiating new antitrust investigations or actions, though existing matters could continue under DOJ oversight. The bill mandates extensive technical and conforming amendments to various federal statutes, including the Clayton Act and the Federal Trade Commission Act, to reflect the DOJ's exclusive authority in antitrust matters. Requirements for agencies to consult with or notify the FTC on antitrust issues would be redirected to the Attorney General. The effective date for these changes is set for the start of the first fiscal year at least 90 days after the bill's enactment.
The "One Agency Act" proposes a significant restructuring of federal antitrust enforcement by transferring all such responsibilities from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to the Department of Justice (DOJ). Congress finds that the current overlapping jurisdiction between these two agencies leads to wasted taxpayer resources, hampers enforcement efforts, and creates uncertainty for businesses and consumers. Therefore, the bill asserts that the DOJ is better suited to be the single primary federal entity for enforcing antitrust laws. Under this legislation, all FTC antitrust actions , including investigations, litigation, and administrative proceedings, along with relevant employees, assets, and funding, would be transferred to the Attorney General. The Attorney General is tasked with managing this transition, which can last up to one year with a possible extension, and is authorized to restructure the DOJ's Antitrust Division to efficiently carry out these new responsibilities. During the transition, the FTC would be prohibited from initiating new antitrust investigations or actions, though existing matters could continue under DOJ oversight. The bill mandates extensive technical and conforming amendments to various federal statutes, including the Clayton Act and the Federal Trade Commission Act, to reflect the DOJ's exclusive authority in antitrust matters. Requirements for agencies to consult with or notify the FTC on antitrust issues would be redirected to the Attorney General. The effective date for these changes is set for the start of the first fiscal year at least 90 days after the bill's enactment.