# Plain Language Summary: The One Agency Act

This bill would consolidate antitrust enforcement—the government's power to stop unfair business practices and monopolies—under a single agency. Right now, two federal agencies share this responsibility: the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The bill argues this split creates confusion, wastes taxpayer money, and makes it harder to enforce the rules fairly. It proposes moving all antitrust work from the FTC to the DOJ's Antitrust Division.

Here's what would actually happen: All FTC employees who work on antitrust cases would transfer to the DOJ, along with their files, equipment, and funding. The FTC would stop taking on new antitrust investigations and cases during a transition period that could last up to two years. Any ongoing FTC antitrust cases would move to the DOJ, which would take over prosecuting them. For cases already in court, the DOJ would step in and take control. The bill protects transferred employees by guaranteeing they won't lose their jobs or take pay cuts for at least a year after the move. Some employees could choose to stay at the FTC if they want to work on non-antitrust issues.

For everyday people and businesses, this means there would be one agency deciding whether mergers are allowed, whether companies are engaging in unfair competition, and how to punish violations. Supporters argue this creates clearer rules and faster decisions. Critics worry it could reduce oversight since the FTC and DOJ sometimes take different approaches to enforcement. Either way, if you're a business owner or consumer concerned about monopolies and unfair competition, you'd now deal with just one government agency instead of two.

One Agency Act

Johnson, Mike

One Agency Act This bill consolidates antitrust enforcement authority in one agency by transferring all Federal Trade Commission (FTC) antitrust functions, employees, assets, and funding to the Department of Justice (DOJ). The bill also transfers to DOJ the responsibility for reviewing specified communications transactions that is currently the duty of the Federal Communications Commission. The bill does not remove the authority of the FTC to police certain unfair and deceptive acts and practices.