Lindsey Graham - Ranking Member on the Senate Committee on the Judiciary | Official U.S. Senate headshot
Lindsey Graham - Ranking Member on the Senate Committee on the Judiciary | Official U.S. Senate headshot
U.S. Senators Dick Durbin, Chuck Grassley, and Mike Lee are calling for the Department of Justice (DOJ) to keep its Chicago and San Francisco antitrust field offices open. The proposal to close these offices has raised concerns over continued enforcement of antitrust laws, especially as several cases in agriculture and technology depend on these locations.
"Now more than ever, antitrust enforcement is needed in the agricultural and technology sectors. Industries like meatpacking, fertilizers, and seeds are consolidating at an alarming rate. And Americans are struggling to afford their groceries. Additionally, the Antitrust Division has ongoing investigations into, and litigation against, large technology platforms,” the Senators expressed in a letter to the DOJ.
The push is in response to the DOJ's March 25, 2025 proposal to eliminate the said antitrust offices. The Senators argue against the closure, advocating for an increase in enforcement rather than reduction. "We strongly urge you to reconsider the Department’s plans to shut down these critical field offices. We should be ramping up our enforcement operations across America, not scaling them back. At a time when Americans are deeply concerned about food prices and the influence of Big Tech, DOJ must root out any anticompetitive behavior that drives up prices, decreases quality, or stifles innovation. Maintaining these field offices will further that objective," they concluded.
The Chicago field office is known for tackling antitrust issues in agriculture and notably led the prosecution of Archer Daniels Midland for price-fixing, leading to what was then the largest antitrust fine.
Similarly, the San Francisco office has been pivotal in technology and media sectors, and in prosecuting criminal activities such as bid-rigging and price-fixing. It has recently concluded significant investigations sanctioning over $1.5 billion in fines and prison terms for several executives.
Read the full letter from the Senators urging the DOJ against the closures.
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