What's happened
Gail Slater, the DOJ's assistant attorney general for antitrust, resigned on February 13, 2026, after clashes over enforcement priorities and political pressure. Her departure follows disagreements over high-profile mergers and the department's approach to competition policy, amid broader debates over regulation and market dominance.
What's behind the headline?
The resignation of Gail Slater signals a significant shift in the DOJ's approach to antitrust enforcement. Her tenure was characterized by a push for stricter scrutiny of mergers and monopolistic practices, aligning with populist and pro-competition sentiments. Her clashes with agency leadership and political figures suggest a broader ideological divide within the administration about the role of regulation in fostering competition.
This departure is likely to embolden critics who argue that the department has been too soft on big tech and corporate consolidation. The White House's direct involvement in her resignation indicates political pressure to soften enforcement, especially as high-profile cases like Ticketmaster and Google remain unresolved.
The broader implications include potential delays or softening of antitrust actions, which could benefit large corporations at the expense of smaller competitors and consumers. Her exit also raises questions about the future direction of U.S. antitrust policy, especially as the department faces court battles over monopolistic practices in tech and entertainment sectors. The department's ability to balance political interests with enforcement will be tested in the coming months, shaping the landscape of U.S. competition law.
What the papers say
The New York Times highlights that Slater's departure follows months of internal tension, with her advocating for aggressive enforcement against monopolies like Google and Ticketmaster, while others in the administration favored a more lenient approach. The NY Post reports that her clashes with key officials, including Attorney General Pam Bondi, and her stance on high-profile mergers, such as Hewlett Packard's deal, contributed to her exit. Meanwhile, Axios notes that her populist approach was at odds with traditional Republican free-market policies, leading to her sidelining and eventual resignation. The articles collectively suggest that her departure reflects ongoing ideological battles over the future of antitrust enforcement in the U.S., with political considerations increasingly influencing department decisions.
How we got here
Gail Slater was appointed as the DOJ's antitrust chief in March 2025, amid a shift toward more populist, aggressive enforcement of antitrust laws. Her tenure was marked by clashes with agency leadership and political figures over how to handle major mergers, including Hewlett Packard's acquisition of Juniper Networks and Netflix's bid for Warner Bros. Discovery. Her approach favored stricter scrutiny of monopolistic practices, contrasting with more lenient, deal-friendly policies favored by some within the administration. Her departure comes amid ongoing tensions over the department's role in regulating large corporations and the influence of political and industry interests.
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