Change at the Helm: Antitrust Chief Steps Down Amid Controversy
In a significant shake-up at the US Department of Justice, the head of the Antitrust Division, Gail Slater, has announced her departure from the role. Slater, a former adviser to JD Vance and Vice President at Fox Corp, reportedly had persistent clashes with Attorney General Pam Bondi, particularly over her critical stance on corporate mergers.
“It is with deep regret and a hopeful heart that I resign from my position as Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust today,” Slater shared in a heartfelt message on X. “Serving in this capacity has truly been the honor of a lifetime.”
While Slater’s departure is officially characterized as a resignation, sources indicate it may have resulted from pressure to step aside, primarily due to her ongoing disagreements with Bondi about the direction of antitrust policy. Just days prior, Bondi was embroiled in heated exchanges during a congressional hearing regarding the department’s handling of sensitive Epstein files, escalating tensions within the DOJ.
The fissures between the two women began last summer when Slater aimed to halt a merger between Hewlett-Packard Enterprise and Juniper Networks, expressing concerns that it could create a duopoly in crucial areas like cloud computing and wireless networks. Meanwhile, conflict escalated when CIA Director John Ratcliffe claimed that blocking the merger could compromise national security—a perspective that ultimately swayed the DOJ to approve the deal.
In addition to her efforts on the Hewlett-Packard merger, Slater was involved in assessing Netflix’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. The situation grew complicated when President Trump announced he would participate in the regulatory examination of the merger, following significant lobbying from both Netflix and Paramount, which was attempting a hostile takeover.
The recent controversy surrounding Slater’s tenure also precedes the DOJ’s upcoming antitrust case against Live Nation, the parent company of Ticketmaster. Filed during the Biden administration, the lawsuit alleges that Live Nation operates as a monopoly, negatively impacting competition, fans, promoters, and artists alike.
As the DOJ prepares for critical challenges ahead, Slater’s departure highlights the complex interplay of corporate power, regulatory oversight, and political dynamics in America’s legal landscape.