Lina Khan’s tenure as chair of the Federal Trade Commission ended on January 20, 2025, when President Donald Trump designated sitting FTC commissioner Andrew N. Ferguson as chairman. Ferguson did not need a new Senate confirmation to become chair: he had already been confirmed as a commissioner in March 2024.
When did Lina Khan leave the FTC chair?
Khan became FTC chair on June 15, 2021. The FTC’s biography narrative says her chair service ended on January 20, 2025, the date Ferguson took over. The biography also contains a conflicting “Time in Office” line that lists January 31, 2025. The same-day White House designation and FTC transition announcement corroborate January 20 as the handoff date. FTC biography of Lina M. Khan; White House designation; FTC transition announcement.
Who replaced Lina Khan as FTC chair?
President Trump designated Andrew N. Ferguson as FTC chairman on January 20, 2025. The FTC announced that Ferguson took over that day. In its announcement, the FTC quoted him saying, “I am honored that President Trump chose me to lead the Federal Trade Commission.” The White House designation; FTC announcement.
How is the FTC chair chosen?
The FTC has five commissioners. The President nominates commissioners, who must be confirmed by the Senate, and then selects one commissioner to serve as chair. No more than three of the five commissioners may belong to the same political party. The chair selection is therefore distinct from appointment to the commission itself. FTC explanation of the commission.
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Ferguson was already an FTC commissioner
Ferguson joined the commission before the chair transition. The Senate nomination record lists his confirmation by voice vote on March 7, 2024; the FTC welcomed him and Melissa Holyoak as commissioners that month. Trump’s January 2025 action designated Ferguson chair—it was not a new Senate confirmation to the commission. Senate nomination details; FTC announcement welcoming Ferguson and Holyoak.
What Khan’s FTC said it prioritized
Khan’s FTC biography lists antitrust and consumer-protection enforcement among her priorities, alongside work on noncompete clauses, sensitive-data surveillance, and access to affordable, high-quality healthcare. These are the agency’s stated priorities during her tenure, not a complete accounting of enforcement results. FTC biography of Lina M. Khan.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What Ferguson’s appointment does—and does not—establish
The transition establishes who led the FTC from January 20, 2025, and the institutional process by which the chair is selected. Ferguson’s announcement included political language about the previous administration and a “new Golden Age” for businesses, workers, and consumers; those are his stated views, not evidence by themselves of later enforcement decisions or outcomes. Assessing changes in FTC policy requires looking at subsequent agency actions, rather than treating appointment rhetoric as a result.
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