78-Vote Confirmed Antitrust Chief Gail Slater Faces Internal Friction in Trump Administration

Washington – Internal friction has emerged within the Justice Department’s antitrust division, sparking private discussions in the Trump administration regarding potential staff changes or resolutions. Gail Slater, who assumed leadership of the antitrust division in March, is at the center of these tensions, despite having secured broad bipartisan support with a 78-19 Senate confirmation vote. She was reportedly summoned to a White House meeting on Thursday with other high-level administration officials to address these issues.

The friction stems from criticism directed at Slater and her team by some colleagues and business leaders, particularly concerning the handling of major antitrust cases. Sources indicate disputes over decisions in investigations, including the Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Juniper Networks merger, where Attorney General Pam Bondi's chief of staff reportedly overruled Slater to accept a settlement. Slater's approach to mergers, which has not adopted a "block-every-merger" stance, has led to internal push-and-pull within the administration.

A key point of contention is Slater's directive to companies to engage directly with Justice Department officials rather than through Trump-aligned lobbyists and consultants. This stance has frustrated some business leaders, prompting them to question her policy priorities within the administration. Despite the criticism, some officials defend Slater as principled and committed to preventing undue influence in confidential legal matters.

Slater, a veteran antitrust attorney and former economic adviser to Vice President J.D. Vance, has publicly articulated an "America First Antitrust" philosophy. This approach aims to protect consumers by rigorously scrutinizing industries such as healthcare, technology, and agriculture, and holding "trillion-dollar Big Tech monopolists" accountable. She oversees significant ongoing antitrust cases against major companies, including Capital One, Apple, Google, LiveNation, and Visa.

The internal discord highlights the challenges of aligning policy objectives within the administration's broader antitrust agenda. While Slater has expressed a willingness to settle more merger cases, she maintains a focus on protecting workers and scrutinizing dominant players. The outcome of these internal discussions could significantly shape the future direction and enforcement priorities of the Justice Department's antitrust efforts under the current administration.