FTC, DOJ: Govt. Shutdown Could Delay Merger Oversight

A government shutdown could stretch out or put on hold key merger oversight and enforcement efforts by the Federal Trade Commission and the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, according to shutdown contingency plans by both agencies. Under a prolonged shutdown, up to half of the personnel at the FTC's Bureau of Competition and nearly 60% of staff at the DOJ Antitrust Division could face furloughs, potentially slowing the pace of merger investigations, the contingency plans say. In litigated cases, agencies could...