The newly confirmed head of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division, Assistant Attorney General Gail Slater, has announced a review of the division’s expenditures on economic consultants.
This move aligns with President Donald Trump’s broader effort to cut costs across the federal government, as outlined in an internal memorandum obtained by Reuters.
In her memo to staff on Thursday, Slater emphasized that antitrust enforcement efforts would concentrate on addressing inflation and ensuring competitive consumer markets. This review of consulting expenses serves as an early indication of how antitrust officials intend to reconcile the administration’s commitment to robust enforcement with its overarching cost-cutting strategy, spearheaded by the Department of Government Efficiency, a program advocated by White House advisor Elon Musk.
Antitrust cases handled by the DOJ frequently involve attempts to block mergers, dismantle monopolistic entities, or impose measures to prevent anticompetitive behavior. These cases often rely on external economic experts, whose fees can reach as high as $30 million for a single lawsuit. Slater underscored the importance of optimizing internal resources, stating, “We have world-class economists in-house, and we can and should utilize and maximize their talents before seeking outside help.”
Given its limited resources, the division will prioritize markets that have a significant impact on U.S. consumers while also protecting competition in areas crucial to national security. Slater highlighted the importance of antitrust enforcement in maintaining competitive markets, particularly in an era of rising consumer prices. “In an era of rising prices, pocketbook issues are front of mind, and we will prioritize these markets,” she stated, aligning the department’s legal efforts with one of Trump’s central campaign promises—combating inflation.
Beyond economic concerns, Slater pointed to the global technological race in artificial intelligence, 5G, and quantum computing as key areas where competitive markets are essential. “We are relying on competitive markets to win these global technological races, and antitrust has a key role to play here,” she noted, suggesting that these sectors may receive increased attention from the division moving forward.
As the DOJ Antitrust Division embarks on this internal review, its focus will remain on enforcing competition laws while adhering to the administration’s cost-conscious approach. The extent of cost reductions and their impact on antitrust enforcement efforts will likely become clearer in the coming months.
