As the Trump administration moves to exert unprecedented control over independent regulatory agencies, Venable hosted a webinar on the implications for advertisers and marketers. The discussion, led by Venable partners Len Gordon, Craig Gilley, and Jonathan Pompan, highlighted a major shift in how agencies like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) will operate under new leadership. With an executive order now requiring independent agencies to submit draft regulations for White House approval, Gordon noted that these bodies are no longer insulated from direct presidential oversight, marking a dramatic departure from decades of governance precedent.
Leadership changes are driving much of this transformation. Gordon described how Andrew Ferguson, the new FTC chair, has prioritized dismantling initiatives from the prior administration, including eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. Gilley explained that at the FCC, Chairman Brendan Carr has taken an aggressive stance against traditional media networks, reviving enforcement actions against broadcast networks over alleged political bias. This approach, he noted, signals a broader ideological shift in regulatory enforcement.
Meanwhile, Pompan painted a stark picture of the CFPB's future, describing the agency as being in a state of near paralysis. Enforcement actions and regulatory initiatives have stalled, leaving uncertainty about whether the CFPB will continue to exist in its current form. As federal oversight diminishes, Pompan warned that state attorneys general and private lawsuits could take on a larger role in enforcing consumer protection laws. "Just because Washington is stepping back doesn't mean businesses can relax," he said, emphasizing that compliance risks are shifting rather than disappearing.
To learn more about upcoming webinars or watch past recordings from our series, Transition Outlook: What to Expect from the Second Trump Administration, click here. The weekly webinar series runs through March 2025.