The United States Department of Justice Antitrust Division is the division of the United States Department of Justice that enforces U.S. antitrust law. It shares authority with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for enforcing civil antitrust law under the Sherman Act and Clayton Act. It also has exclusive authority to enforce criminal antitrust law under the Sherman Act.
Contents
History
Early years
On February 25, 1903, Congress earmarked $500,000 for antitrust enforcement. On March 3, 1903, Congress created the position of Antitrust Attorney General, with a salary to be paid out of the funds earmarked for antitrust enforcement. The 1904 DOJ Register identified two professional staffers responsible for enforcement of antitrust laws, but the Division was not formally established until 1919.
Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer “effected the first important reorganization" of DOJ since it was first established in 1870. Palmer organized DOJ into divisions, and placed the assistant attorney general “in charge of the Anti-Trust Division.” Palmer's annual report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1919 contained the first public statement that DOJ had a component called the "Antitrust Division."
2013 closure of field offices
The closure of four of the Antitrust Division's criminal antitrust offices in January 2013 generated significant controversy within the Division and among members of Congress. The Attorney General posited that the closure of these offices would save money and not negatively affect criminal enforcement.
A significant number of career prosecutors voiced contrary opinions, noting that the elimination of half of the Division's criminal enforcement offices would increase travel expenses and diminish the likelihood of uncovering local or regional conspiracies.
Leadership
The Antitrust Division is led by an assistant attorney general (AAG) who is appointed by the president of the United States with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Antitrust Division's AAG reports to the associate attorney general and the deputy attorney general. The current assistant attorney general for the Antitrust Division is Gail Slater.
Current organizational structure
The Assistant Attorney General is assisted by Deputy Assistant Attorneys General (DAAG). One of the DAAGs holds the position of "Principal Deputy," that is "first among equals," and "will typically assume the powers of the Assistant Attorney General in the Assistant Attorney General's absence."
As of January 24, 2025, the Antitrust Division consists of these sections and offices:
Office of the Assistant Attorney General
Assistant Attorney General
Deputy Assistant Attorneys General
Chief of Staff and Senior Advisors
Directors of Enforcement
Office of the Chief Legal Advisor
Civil Enforcement Program
Anti-Monopoly and Collusion Enforcement Section
Defense, Industrials, and Aerospace Section
Financial Services, Fintech, and Banking Section
Healthcare and Consumer Products Section
Media, Entertainment, and Communications Section
Technology and Digital Platforms Section
Transportation, Energy, and Agriculture Section
Criminal Sections and Offices
Chicago Office (also has civil enforcement responsibilities)
New York Office
San Francisco Office (also has civil enforcement responsibilities)
Washington Criminal Section
Expert Analysis Group
Economic Analysis Group
Executive Office
Executive Office
Paralegal Unit
Policy and Advocacy Program
Appellate Section
Competition Policy and Advocacy Section
International Section
State Relations