Trump reverses Biden order on competition

Trump revokes Biden's 2021 executive order to promote competition, signaling a major shift in antitrust enforcement.

Trump Reverses Biden Competition Order and Reshapes Antitrust Policy

Trump on Wednesday revoked the 2021 executive order issued by Biden to promote competition in the US economy. The White House confirmed the move, marking a reversal of a signature effort aimed at curbing anti-competitive practices in sectors from agriculture to healthcare and labor. The Justice Department welcomed the change, describing its preferred path as an America first antitrust approach that favors free markets over what it calls the Biden administration's overly prescriptive methods. It also cited progress in streamlining merger reviews under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act and the use of targeted consent decrees.

Biden’s order, issued in July 2021, sought to strengthen enforcement against excessive market concentration and market power. Critics argued it could help consumers by reducing fees and costs associated with large mergers, while supporters said the policy would restore balance in industries with dominant players. The revocation raises questions about whether competition policy will remain a bipartisan concern or become a volatile political issue as lawmakers and agencies weigh how best to balance growth, innovation, and consumer protection.

Policy swings like this show how antitrust enforcement can drift with political winds. The reversal highlights a longer-term tension: should the state steadily police market power or lean toward deregulation to please credit markets and investors? Either path can change the price of everyday goods and the cost of everyday services. The move also tests the idea that targeted tools such as streamlined merger reviews and strategic consent decrees can deliver consumer wins without broad regulatory overhauls.

Going forward, a pragmatic middle ground may serve the public better than periodic policy storms. A steady, evidence-based approach that preserves core antitrust safeguards while applying flexible rules could reduce uncertainty for businesses and households. In that light the Hart-Scott-Rodino updates and more precise consent decrees might offer a durable framework that protects competition without stalling investment.

Highlights

A steady policy on competition matters more than the headlines around it.