**Trump Considers Top Contenders for FTC Chair as Lina Khan's Departure Looms**

With the upcoming departure of Lina Khan from her role as the chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), President-elect Donald Trump has shortlisted several candidates to take over the significant position. Two prominent figures on this list are Gail Slater, an aide to JD Vance, and Andrew Ferguson, a current FTC commissioner, insiders have revealed.

Khan, known for her stringent antitrust enforcement which has stirred controversy in the business community but garnered occasional Republican praise, is expected to exit the FTC following Trump's inauguration in January. Although her term officially ended in September, her aggressive regulatory approach has had lasting impacts, especially among conservative circles pushing for dismantling monopolistic practices.

Gail Slater, a key advisor to the Trump transition team on technology and antitrust strategies and a close aide to Vance on economic policies, emerges as a leading candidate. An Oxford-educated attorney, Slater has a history of service under Trump's previous administration, including roles at Fox Corp. and Roku. "It seems like it's going to be Gail," commented a source familiar with the situation. "She's central to this process and aligns well with business interests."

Another significant candidate is Andrew Ferguson, who has served as chief counsel to Sen. Mitch McConnell and is currently a sitting commissioner. Ferguson's tenure at the FTC and his prior experience, such as clerking for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and contributing to Trump's judicial confirmations, make him a strong contender. However, his association with McConnell, a known adversary of Trump during his time as Senate majority leader, might affect his standing.

The GOP appears split between maintaining a traditional business-friendly stance and aggressively challenging Big Tech firms. Notably, JD Vance has praised Khan's rigorous FTC enforcement and called for the breakup of Google. On the contrary, influential business figures like Elon Musk, a major Trump supporter and future head of the "department of government efficiency," have criticized Khan's tactics.

Other potential picks for the FTC chair include current Republican FTC commissioner Melissa Holyoak, who, like Ferguson, could serve in an acting capacity until a permanent chair is appointed. Also in the mix is Mark Meador, a respected lawyer with previous FTC and DOJ antitrust experience, alongside his role advising Sen. Mike Lee on antitrust matters. Alex Okuliar, a former senior DOJ antitrust attorney involved in earlier probes into Google, is also a candidate.

With the FTC facing major lawsuits against Amazon and Meta, and a judge recently allowing the trial for the FTC's case to break up Meta, the new chair will play a crucial role. The Trump administration is likely to continue its tough stance on Big Tech but may adopt a more lenient perspective on mergers compared to Khan's approach.

As decisions on these appointments are still underway, Trump’s transition team emphasizes that announcements will follow once final choices are made.