FTC Commissioner Phillips Steps Down, Leaves Agency With Republican Vacancy

Federal Trade Commissioner Noah Phillips stepped down from his position Oct 14, leaving a Republican vacancy at the antitrust and consumer protection agency. Phillips, a former Senate staffer, joined the agency in May 2018. He announced his intent to resign in August. His departure will take the five-member commission down to four, with three Democrats and one Republican. President Joe Biden will select Phillips’ successor, though the president generally defers to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to suggest candidates to fill Republican vacancies. Senator McConnell has been meeting with possible candidates since Phillips announced his resignation. Possible contenders include Mark Meador, a staffer for Senator Mike Lee (R-UT), the top Republican on Senate Judiciary’s antitrust panel; Svetlana Gans, a partner at the law firm Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP who served as chief of staff to former FTC Acting Chair Maureen Ohlhausen; and Olivia Trusty, a senior aide to Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS), the top Republican on the Senate Commerce Committee.