A commissioner with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said he was “illegally fired” by President Trump.
In a statement posted to social platform X, Alvaro Bedoya said he was wrongfully terminated by Trump, calling it “plain and simple” corruption.
“The FTC is an independent agency founded 111 years ago to fight fraudsters and monopolists. Our staff is unafraid of the Martin Shkrelis and Jeff Bezos of the world. They take them to court and they win,” Bedoya said. “Now, the president wants the FTC to be a lapdog for his golfing buddies.”
Reports quickly circulated that the other Democrat on the commission, Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, was also fired.
A White House official confirmed both commissioners were dismissed and did not provide any further details.
Late last month, Senate Democrats pressed Trump’s FTC nominee, Mark Meador, over the independence of the agency as there are concerns the administration would try to influence the FTC’s enforcement efforts.
Meador maintained that he was there to serve the American people through the independent agency led by five commissioners.
Bedoya, who was sworn in to be an FTC commissioner in 2022, said in his statement that it was an honor to serve the country through the agency. He highlighted the work he tried to do for the American people, including for workers rights and technology tracking.
“Whether you’re a Republican or a Democrat or someone who’s so disgusted with Washington you can barely watch the news, the FTC has worked for you,” he wrote. “Who will Trump’s FTC work for? Will it work for the billionaires? Or will it work for you?”
The FTC has been stuck in a partisan stalemate since the start of the Trump administration and the departure of former Chair Lina Khan.
Before the Democrats’ firing, the FTC had one vacant commissioner seat. There are currently two Republican commissioners, Chair Andrew Ferguson and Melissa Holyoak.
Bedoya said he would be testifying before the Colorado Joint House and Senate Judiciary Committees on Wednesday and will “have more to say then,” but until that point, he had a message to the public watching the Trump administration’s changes unfold: “Don’t be scared. Fight back.”
The Hill has also reached out to Slaugher via her official government email address.
