United States of America: President signed Executive Order on Reducing Anti-Competitive Regulatory Barriers

On 9 April 2025, the President of the United States signed an Executive Order mandating a government-wide initiative to review and eliminate federal regulations identified as anti-competitive. Agency heads, in consultation with the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Attorney General, are directed to identify regulations that facilitate monopolistic outcomes, create unnecessary barriers to entry, limit competition among firms, impose unduly burdensome licensing or accreditation requirements, or otherwise distort the operation of the free market. Within 10 days of the order, the FTC Chairman is required to issue a Request for Information (RFI) to solicit information on such regulations. The RFI will remain open for 40 days. Following receipt of agency comments, the FTC Chairman, in consultation with the Attorney General, the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, and relevant agency heads, will compile a consolidated list of regulations recommended for repeal or modification. This list will be submitted to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), who will determine whether to include the recommendations in the Unified Regulatory Agenda.