Maureen Ohlhausen and Jamillia Ferris, co-chairs of Wilson Sonsini’s antitrust and competition practice, along with associate Rachel Burke, co-authored an article in Law360 titled “How Trump Administration's Antitrust Agenda Is Playing Out.”

In their article, they examine how antitrust enforcement in Trump’s second term embodies an “America First” approach that balances deregulation with targeted enforcement. While early optimism for a more permissive merger environment has been tempered by legal challenges and the retention of several Biden-era policies, new leadership at the FTC and DOJ has nonetheless signaled a commitment to faster, more predictable merger reviews and a willingness to approve deals with structural remedies. Simultaneously, the administration is aggressively pursuing regulatory rollbacks through executive orders aimed at limiting agency autonomy and reducing burdens.

Despite this deregulatory push, enforcement remains vigorous, especially in key sectors like Big Tech, labor, and healthcare. The article highlights ongoing litigation against Meta, increased scrutiny of platform content moderation, and a sharpened focus on protecting competition in consumer-facing markets. Labor enforcement is also expanding, addressing issues such as wage-fixing, non-compete agreements, and DEI-related collusion. Taken together, these trends suggest that while regulatory requirements may loosen in some areas, robust antitrust enforcement will continue to be a priority.

To read the Law360 article by Ohlhausen, Ferris, and Burke, please click here (subscription required).