Sharon Juve: FTC firings threaten small business protections

To The Daily Sun,

The firing of FTC Commissioners Alvaro Bedoya and Rebecca Kelly Slaughter by President Donald Trump is a dangerous blow to regulatory independence and fair competition. These commissioners were leading investigations into monopolistic practices by corporate giants like Amazon, Walmart, and Facebook — work essential to protecting consumers and small businesses.

The FTC ensures that local entrepreneurs, including those in communities like Meredith and Laconia, aren’t crushed by predatory pricing, exclusive supplier agreements, and other unfair tactics used by dominant corporations. By removing Bedoya and Slaughter without cause, Trump disrupted critical oversight and undermined decades of antitrust enforcement.

These firings appear timed to halt investigations into deals that gave massive corporations an unfair edge. That’s not just a federal concern — it hits home for small businesses already struggling to compete against behemoths with unchecked market power.

Weakening the FTC at a time when consolidation is threatening entire industries sends a clear message: corporate power comes before public interest.

This is more than a policy disagreement — it’s a direct threat to the economic lifeblood of our towns. Congress must investigate. The courts must intervene. And we, the public, must demand that independent agencies remain truly independent.

Fair competition should never be a partisan issue. It’s the foundation of local economies and the promise of the American marketplace.

Sharon Juve

Meredith