President Joe Biden on Monday nominated two Republicans to serve on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), one of the two regulators charged with enforcing the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. The two Republicans — Virginia Solicitor General Andrew Ferguson and Utah Solicitor General Melissa Holyoak — would fill the two open vacancies on the five-member commission at the FTC.
Both Ferguson and Holyoak have received commendation for their unique skills and expertise. Khan, who previously faced criticism from former Republican commissioner Christine Wilson, expressed anticipation to collaborate with the nominees, emphasizing that the FTC operates most effectively at full strength.
“I congratulate Andrew Ferguson and Melissa Holyoak on their nominations to serve on the Federal Trade Commission,” Khan said in a statement. “Each would bring key skills, experiences, and expertise to the Commission as we work to promote fair competition and protect Americans from unfair or deceptive practices. The Commission operates best at full strength, and I look forward to working with them to fulfill the important mandate Congress has given us.”
Ferguson served as chief counsel to U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell from 2019 until 2021 and has also worked with Senators Lindsey Graham and Chuck Grassley. McConnell urged the Senate to confirm the nominees promptly to protect American consumers and the country’s economic future from potential overreach.
“We need brilliant and talented leaders to simultaneously protect American consumers and defend our economic future from far-left overreach,” McConnell said in a statement.
Holyoak, serving as the Utah Solicitor General, has an extensive background in legal services, including working for O’Melveny & Myers, the Hamilton Lincoln Law Institute, the Competitive Enterprise Institute, and the Center for Class Action Fairness.
