FTC Chair Requests Funding for Additional Staff in FY 2024

Before the House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing, FTC Chair Lina Khan requested a budget for fiscal year 2024 of $590 million and funding for 1,690 full time equivalent ("FTE") staff.

In her testimony, Ms. Khan said that the $160 million budget increase from fiscal year 2023 will fund an additional 310 FTEs, which will allow the FTC to (i) build its in-house expertise, (ii) conduct market-wide inquiries and (iii) scrutinize emerging business practices. She said that the budget will support "systems modernization and infrastructure upgrades" as well as encourage "expert work in litigation."

Committee Member Remarks

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) said that the FTC must ensure its commitment to being the "preeminent data protection agency in the world." She added that Ms. Khan must create "reforms, more guardrails, and increased transparency" in light of questions about the "integrity and effectiveness" of the FTC under Ms. Khan’s tenure.

The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce Chair Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) criticized the FTC under Ms. Khan for (i) failing to protect consumers by "continuing to lose constantly in Federal court" and (ii) the "mass exodus of career staff." He questioned how Ms. Khan is able to "justify[] a budget increase" when the FTC has "diverted from mission critical functions and pulled from all bureaus to focus on merger reviews."