Attorney General Bonta Issues Statement After Trump Administration Unlawfully Fires FTC Commissioners

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued a statement after the Trump Administration unlawfully fired two Federal Trade Commission (FTC) commissioners. The FTC was created by Congress in 1914 with the Federal Trade Commission Act, which allows a president to remove a commissioner only for “inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office." Since then, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the president’s removal powers do not go beyond what Congress authorized. Congress created the FTC to protect consumers and market competition — as such, the FTC is responsible for enforcing laws that touch virtually every area of commerce and targets its enforcement efforts at practices that cause the greatest harm to consumers. California regularly collaborates with the FTC to protect consumers, workers, and the market by bringing enforcement actions that check the power of corporations acting illegally. 

“The Trump Administration’s illegal firing of the two Commissioners is extremely concerning. Consumer protection and antitrust are not political — they are about protecting working families and helping ensure the benefits of a vibrant economy are for everyone,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Time and time again, California has benefitted from the FTC’s collaboration and coordination in bringing enforcement actions and taking other measures to safeguard Americans nationwide, regardless of who is in the White House.”