Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy Rodgers (R-WA) and Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee Chair Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) sent a letter to Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairwoman Lina Khan demanding answers about the recent resignation announcement of Republican FTC Commissioner Christine Wilson.  

Regarding Commissioner Wilson’s Plans to Resign, the letter states:  

“Commissioner Wilson’s allegations concern the potential loss of integrity of the FTC, the jeopardizing of the independence and collegiality essential to the functioning of the FTC, and the increased risk of the public losing confidence in the FTC.” 

[…] 

“On February 14, 2023, Commissioner Christine Wilson published an article in the Wall Street Journal indicating her intent to resign in protest of your actions. Her allegations in the article detailed the ways you have centralized power, undermined the Commission’s structure, and broke decades of bipartisan precedent. Further, Commissioner Wilson noted that federal courts have repeatedly ruled against FTC Chairs for similar conflicts of interest.” 

Chair Rodgers and Subcommittee Chair Bilirakis demand Chair Khan: 

• Answer how she will seek bipartisan input and consensus since no such perspectives are now represented following the resignation of all Republican commissioners?   
• Provide all documents related to the decision to redact Commissioner Wilson’s dissent mentioned in the February 14, 2023, Wall Street Journal. 
• Starting with 2018, for each year, to provide the total number of FTC employees who have resigned, retired, or left the agency for other reasons. 

CHAIR KAHN CONTINUES TO CONSOLIDATE POWER AND ERODE TRUST: “During your tenure as Chair, the FTC has seen a precipitous decline in staff approval and the early departure of both Republican commissioners. Despite numerous letters of concern, from myself and other Republican Members of Congress, you have continued to ignore the concerns of other commissioners in a dangerous and misguided consolidation of power.” 

PROMISES BROKEN: “Republican members asked for your commitment to chair the FTC in a transparent manner. Throughout the hearing, you said that you were ‘always keen to find areas of shared agreement with colleagues’ and ‘doing the best [you] can to make sure that information is available,’ and you were ‘always thinking about ways that we can improve our processes going forward.’ Additionally, when asked to commit to communicating with other Commissioners, you replied ‘Oh, absolutely Congresswoman. Staff is always available to Commissioners to provide analysis and assessment.’ It is disappointing that you were unable to commit to communicate directly with Democrat and Republican Commissioners.” 

REPORTS OF ABUSIVE BEHAVIOR: “Unfortunately, in the 18-months since you made these commitments both Republican commissioners have resigned in protest. Senior staff have quit in record numbers, describing you [in the New York Post] as ‘abusive’ and a ‘tyrant.’ ” 

CLICK HERE to read the full letter demanding answers from Chair Khan.