Ten months after the Trump Administration took over from President Obama’s team, we finally have a selection for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairman seat. Joseph Simons is currently an attorney at Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison LLP. He is no stranger to the agency as he has previously lead the Bureau of Competition.

In related news, President Trump has also nominated Rohit Chopra for the open Democratic Commissioner seat. Chopra is currently a senior fellow at the Consumer Federation of America. He is a well know ally of Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). Together they are seen as instrumental in setting up the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) where he served as student loan ombudsman. 

Further, Noah Phillips who is currently Senator John Cornyn’s (R-TX) chief council has been selected for the final Republican seat on the Commission. 

If confirmed by the Senate, these three candidates would bring the Commission to full strength. However, if either current acting Chair Maureen Ohlhausen or Democrat Commissioner Terrell McSweeny decide to step down there will be additional spots open for the Trump Administration to fill.

It’s important for industry participants to know that this is a dramatic overhaul of the FTC’s leadership apparatus with uncertain policy implications to follow. Here at the Electronic Retailing Association, we will continue to monitor and update you on developments as they happen.

For now, please join me in congratulating Joseph Simons, Rohit Chopra, and Noah Phillips on this outstanding honor and achievement. ERA looks forward to working with you on behalf of our member companies in the years ahead to ensure a healthy and vibrant marketplace! 

 About the Author

Bill McClellan serves as ERA's Vice President of Government Affairs. Prior to joining the association, Bill worked as a lobbyist at the Georgia Automobile Dealers Association, covering the state legislature and Georgia's congressional delegation. Before working for the GADA, Bill managed political campaigns at both the congressional and state constitutional levels.