DOJ UNVEILS ANTICOMPETITIVE REGULATIONS TASK FORCE
May 23, 2025
Eckert Seamans has prepared the information in this update for educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice nor substitute for legal advice. Neither your receipt of information from this website nor your use of this website to contact Eckert Seamans or one of its attorneys creates an attorney-client relationship, as the firm may, for example, already represent another party involved in your matter. Accordingly, you should not provide confidential information to Eckert Seamans. Persons seeking legal advice should consult a licensed professional attorney in their state. The firm’s Terms of Use, Legal Notice, and Disclaimer detailed herein are expressly incorporated into the Aviation Regulatory Update.
On March 27, 2025, DOJ announced the creation of an Anticompetitive Regulations Task Force (the “Task Force”) broadly tasked with eliminating anticompetitive state and federal laws and regulations deemed harmful to competition. In addition to the housing, healthcare, and energy sectors, the Task Force will focus on laws and regulations in the transportation sector that undermine free market competition and harm consumers. Notably, the Task Force will specifically examine the process by which DOT grants antitrust immunity to airlines. While not clear what jurisdiction the federal Task Force can or will try to exercise over state laws and regulations, the announcement in the early days of the Trump administration furthers a broader deregulatory appetite across all federal agencies. That said, Assistant Attorney General Slater, head of the DOJ’s Antitrust Division and former policy advisor to Vice President Vance, remains a corporate consolidation skeptic, especially among global technology companies. Those interested in the Task Force’s work can submit public comments here until May 26, 2025, at which time the Task Force will begin proposing regulatory changes to remove barriers to competition.
This Aviation Blog is intended to keep readers current on developments in the law. It is not intended to be legal advice. If you have any questions, please contact Evelyn Sahr at 202.659.6622 or esahr@eckertseamans.com; Drew Derco at 202.659.6665 or dderco@eckertseamans.com, Andrew Orr 202.659.6625 or aorr@eckertseamans.com; Jay Julien at 202.659.6648 or jjulien@eckertseamans.com; or Tyler Myers at 202.659.6642 or trmyers@eckertseamans.com, or any other attorney at Eckert Seamans with whom you have been working.
Share This Post
Authors
