President Biden on Thursday appointed Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel as acting chairmen of their respective agencies.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai
Ajit PaiHillicon Valley: Twitter Permanently Suspends Michael Flynn, Sidney Powell & Others | Laptop stolen from Pelosi’s office during Capitol riots | Reddit Bans r / DonaldTrump Forum Pai Scraps Trump Executive Order to Change Section 230 Night Defense: US Aircraft Carrier Remains in Abrupt Reversal in Middle East | DC Guard Activated Ahead of Pro-Trump Protests | 10 former Defense secretaries speak out against military involvement in election dispute MORE and FTC Chairman Joseph Simons, both Republicans, had announced plans to step down later this month.
Rosenworcel said she is “honored” to be appointed acting FCC chairman and to work to expand communications capabilities across the country.
“I thank the President for the opportunity to lead an agency with such a vital mission and talented staff. It is a privilege to serve and work on their behalf the American people to expand the reach of communication opportunities in the digital age, ”she said in a statement.
During his presidency, Pai repealed Obama-era net neutrality rules, allowing the FCC to go after service providers who discriminate against certain Internet traffic. The repeal will likely be quashed after Democrats gain a 3-2 majority on the committee.
Slaughter, who has been with the FTC since 2018, said she is “very honored and grateful” to lead it.
“The best thing about serving at the FTC is working with our incredibly dedicated and talented employees. Their expertise, creativity and determined dedication have given me confidence that we will be able to meet the formidable challenges facing our markets and the American people today, ”Slaughter said in the announcement.
She also thanked Simons, who said the day before Biden’s inauguration that he would step down effective January 29.
“I would like to express my sincere appreciation for Chairman Simons’s outstanding leadership at a time of unprecedented challenges,” said Slaughter.
In addition to replacing Simons as FTC Chairman, Biden will have to reposition himself on the five-member board held by the Democratic Commissioner Rohit Chopra
Rohit ChopraConsumer Bureau Director Resigns After Biden’s Inauguration of Hillicon Valley: Biden Takes Up Stress Need for Cyber Security in Confirmation Hearings | FTC Chairman Steps Down This Month | Progressives Warn Against Naming Tech Insiders To Key Antitrust Positions Biden Consumer Bureau Pick Could Take Over Agency On Inauguration Day MORE. The president’s transition team said days before the transfer of power that then-president-elect would nominate Chopra to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.