The top Republican senator on antitrust is whispering two names into Donald Trump’s ear to replace Lina Khan as chair of the Federal Trade Commission, NOTUS has learned. But the potential picks represent two very different versions of the future of corporate power and regulation under the new Republican trifecta.
It’s very unlikely Khan would stay on as chair under a Republican administration, but there are conservatives who might continue her track record of aggressive enforcement — people her supporters think of as “Khanverts” — on the list of names being considered for her replacement, including one being pushed by Khan critic and chair of the Senate antitrust committee, Sen. Mike Lee.
Lee told NOTUS he’s had “lots of conversations with the transition team, including about the FTC” and has been pushing for either Republican FTC Commissioner Melissa Holyoak — who holds more traditional GOP views — or one of his former staffers, Mark Meador — who has, at times, defended Khan’s record — as her replacement.