In a decisive 78-19 vote on Tuesday, the U.S. Senate confirmed Gail Slater as assistant attorney general for the Antitrust Division at the Department of Justice, positioning the former FTC staffer and Trump administration economic adviser to take the reins in one of the most high-profile regulatory offices in Washington.

A Powerhouse in Antitrust Policy

Slater, who most recently served as an adviser to Vice President J.D. Vance during his Senate tenure, will now spearhead the DOJ’s antitrust enforcement efforts, inheriting an agency actively litigating landmark cases against Google, Apple, Live Nation/Ticketmaster, and Agri Stats.

The confirmation marks a rare moment of bipartisan unity, with Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, touting Slater’s credentials ahead of the vote.

"In a rare sign of unity in the Judiciary Committee I chair — where we don’t get a lot of unity — Ms. Slater was advanced out of committee by 20 yes-votes to two no-votes," Grassley said on the Senate floor.

Despite broad support, Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, opposed the nomination, citing concerns over DOJ independence and potential political interference.

Slater’s Antitrust Vision: Mergers, Big Tech, and Enforcement Strategy

During her February 12 confirmation hearing, Slater fielded questions from lawmakers about her approach to antitrust enforcement, including how her policies might differ from previous DOJ leadership.

Balancing Tough Enforcement with Pragmatic Settlements

Slater expressed support for strong enforcement against anticompetitive practices but hinted at a shift in strategy regarding merger settlements.

"I expect we may take a different approach than the prior Antitrust Division on settlements in merger cases where effective and robust structural remedies can be implemented without excessively burdening the Antitrust Division’s resources," she noted.

She also committed to working with Congress on implementing the Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act, which raised filing fees for larger mergers to increase oversight.

Big Tech Under the Microscope

With the DOJ currently engaged in high-stakes antitrust battles against Google and Apple, Slater was pressed on whether she would aggressively pursue tech giants.

While she noted she was not yet familiar with the specifics of ongoing cases, Slater assured senators she would "read into" all open matters and bring a "deep understanding of technology markets" to her role.

Live Nation, Ticketmaster, and the Meat Industry

Similarly, when Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., questioned her on the DOJ’s antitrust cases against Live Nation/Ticketmaster for monopolizing the live entertainment industry and Agri Stats for allegedly facilitating price coordination among meat processors, Slater again pledged to thoroughly review the case files upon taking office.

A Divided Response to Slater’s Appointment

While Slater received broad bipartisan backing, Sen. Blumenthal voiced strong objections, accusing the administration of weaponizing the DOJ for political purposes.

"Ms. Slater may have an impressive background and expertise," Blumenthal said. "But the pattern so far is that this administration is dead set on undermining the independence of the Department of Justice and weaponizing it against the president’s enemies."

Despite these concerns, Slater’s confirmation sets the stage for a new chapter in DOJ antitrust enforcement, with major corporate battles on the horizon.

As she steps into one of the most scrutinized roles in Washington, the tech industry, corporate America, and consumers alike will be watching closely to see how she wields the DOJ’s antitrust hammer in the months ahead.