The Justice Department prevailed in its antitrust case against Google on April 17, 2025, but the broader landscape of competition enforcement in the United States is undergoing a fundamental shift, described by some as “anarchic.” This follows the reintroduction of the Competition and Antitrust Law Enforcement Reform Act by Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) in January 2025, aiming to reinvigorate America’s antitrust laws.
The Klobuchar bill, formally known as S.130, seeks to provide federal enforcers with increased resources, strengthen prohibitions against anticompetitive mergers and conduct and modernize enforcement mechanisms. It builds upon previous legislative successes, including the Merger Fee Modernization Act and the State Antitrust Enforcement Venue Act, both enacted in 2022, which aimed to bolster resources for antitrust enforcement and protect state enforcers’ ability to choose their court venues.
“Our economy has a major competition problem and it’s hurting consumers, workers, and businesses,” Klobuchar stated upon reintroducing the legislation. “Our antitrust laws have not kept pace with the times, and consolidation and exclusionary conduct have run rampant.” The bill has garnered support from a bipartisan group of senators, including Whitehouse (D-RI), Blumenthal (D-CT), Booker (D-NJ), Hirono (D-HI), Welch (D-VT), Bennet (D-CO), Heinrich (D-NM), Markey (D-MA), Murphy (D-CT), Smith (D-MN), Schatz (D-HI), Warner (D-VA), and Wyden (D-OR).
The shift in antitrust enforcement is occurring as industries experience increasing consolidation through mergers and acquisitions. Concerns are growing that larger companies are preemptively acquiring potential competitors before they can pose a significant challenge. Dominant firms are also facing scrutiny for exclusionary practices, including restrictive contracts, predatory pricing, and refusals to deal with rivals.
The Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division, led by Acting Assistant Attorney General Omeed A. Assefi, is at the forefront of this evolving landscape. In July 2025, the Division announced a modern whistleblower rewards program, signaling a commitment to actively investigate and prosecute antitrust violations. The DOJ and FTC jointly released the 2023 Merger Guidelines in December 2023, providing updated guidance on evaluating mergers and acquisitions.
The recent case against Google, concerning monopolization of digital advertising technologies, represents a significant victory for the DOJ. A remedies hearing was held on September 22, 2025, and again on April 21, 2025, to determine appropriate redress for the alleged violations of Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act. The outcome of the remedies phase remains pending.
The Economist reported on February 18, 2026, that the current approach to competition enforcement in America is increasingly centered at the White House, contributing to what it termed “anarchic antitrust.”
