Former Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Commissioner Alvaro Bedoya is advocating for a renewed focus on antitrust enforcement by drawing inspiration from a historical "1890 coalition" of farmers, labor unions, and small businesses. In a recent social media post, Bedoya reflected on his three years at the FTC, stating, "It’s that coalition that brought antitrust law into existence, and frankly set the precedent that it’s Congress’s job to check not just government power but corporate power." He asserted that reviving such a broad alliance is "entirely possible" by shifting attention from traditional Left-Right political divides to the impact of concentrated wealth on ordinary citizens.
Bedoya's vision emphasizes that "the way that the money at the top is crushing everyone underneath" can forge unexpected alliances. He pointed to historical legislative achievements like the Sherman Act, the Clayton Act, the Norris-LaGuardia Act, and the Robinson-Patman Act as precedents for collective action against corporate power. During his tenure at the FTC, which concluded in March 2025, Bedoya specifically championed the revival of the long-dormant Robinson-Patman Act, aimed at protecting small sellers from price discrimination by larger retail entities.
His work at the FTC frequently focused on the challenges faced by workers and small businesses, including small-town grocers and pharmacists. Following his departure from the FTC, where he was reportedly fired by President Trump before his term officially ended, Bedoya joined the anti-monopoly organization Economic Liberties as a Senior Advisor. In this new role, he plans to continue advocating for workers and small businesses through public interest litigation and educating Americans on their rights under antitrust, privacy, and consumer protection law.
Bedoya's continued advocacy underscores a broader conversation about the future of antitrust enforcement in the United States. His perspective suggests that addressing economic inequality and corporate dominance can create a bipartisan consensus, transcending conventional political alignments. This approach seeks to build on the historical legacy of antitrust movements to address contemporary economic challenges.