FTC Acting Chairwoman Slaughter Announces New Rulemaking Group

Acting Federal Trade Commission Chairwoman Rebecca Kelly Slaughter announced the creation of a new rulemaking group within the FTC’s Office of the General Counsel. The new structure will allow the FTC to take a strategic and harmonized approach to rulemaking across its different authorities and mission areas. With this new group in place, the FTC is poised to strengthen existing rules and to undertake new rulemakings to prohibit unfair or deceptive practices and unfair methods of competition. Especially given the risk that the Supreme Court substantially curtails the FTC’s ability to seek consumer redress under section 13(b), rulemaking is a critical part of the FTC’s toolbox to stop widespread consumer harm and to promote robust competition. Currently, rulemaking within the FTC is decentralized, with individual bureaus and divisions responsible for particular rules. In recent decades, most rulemaking activity has been periodic review of existing rules. The new structure will aid the planning, development, and execution of rulemaking – especially new rulemakings – in turn making the Commission’s work more efficient and potent.  


FTC Acting Chairwoman Slaughter Announces New Rulemaking Group