New Deal Rules in Washington

The recent dismissal of the Justice Department’s antitrust chief signals a shift toward a more business‑friendly climate in Washington. Law firms are now drafting memos that reflect the current administration’s willingness to approve corporate mergers, a reversal from last year’s campaign rhetoric that criticized large tech and healthcare companies for stifling competition. Dealmakers advise clients to come prepared with concessions if their mergers are likely to attract scrutiny. This approach mirrors the broader trend of a less confrontational stance toward consolidation, aligning more with Republican business interests than with populist concerns about market dominance.The focus of antitrust enforcement has moved away from online censorship disputes toward the growing importance of artificial intelligence. This realignment is partly due to the influence of new political allies who are less inclined to challenge corporate growth, especially in tech. Merger investigations hit a low point in 2025, with the department dropping a lawsuit that would have blocked a corporate‑travel merger and settling with many companies whose deals had faced intense examination. The move contrasts sharply with the previous administration’s more skeptical approach to large‑scale corporate deals. Progressives and some former allies feel sidelined, noting that the voices advocating for tighter scrutiny of mergers no longer hold sway in government circles. They are left discussing their concerns in private forums, while the current policy direction favors corporate expansion.