United States Department of Justice Antitrust Division


The United States Department of Justice Antitrust Division is the division of the U.S. Department of Justice that enforces U.S. antitrust law. It has exclusive jurisdiction over federal criminal antitrust enforcement, and enforces civil antitrust law under the Sherman Act and Clayton Act. It shares civil antitrust jurisdiction with the Federal Trade Commission.

History

Early years

On February 25, 1903, Congress earmarked $500,000 for antitrust enforcement. On March 3, 1903, Congress created the position of Antitrust Attorney General, with a salary to be paid out of the funds earmarked for antitrust enforcement. The 1904 DOJ Register identified two professional staffers responsible for enforcement of antitrust laws, but the Division was not formally established until 1919.
Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer “effected the first important reorganization" of DOJ since it was first established in 1870. Palmer organized DOJ into divisions, and placed the assistant attorney general “in charge of the Anti-Trust Division.” Palmer's annual report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1919 contained the first public statement that DOJ had a component called the "Antitrust Division."

2013 closure of field offices

The closure of four of the Antitrust Division's criminal antitrust offices in January 2013 generated significant controversy within the Division and among members of Congress. The Attorney General posited that the closure of these offices would save money and not negatively affect criminal enforcement.
A significant number of career prosecutors voiced contrary opinions, noting that the elimination of half of the Division's criminal enforcement offices would increase travel expenses and diminish the likelihood of uncovering local or regional conspiracies.

Leadership

The Antitrust Division is led by an assistant attorney general who is appointed by the president of the United States with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Antitrust Division's AAG reports to the associate attorney general and the deputy attorney general. The current assistant attorney general for the Antitrust Division is Gail Slater.

List of Assistant Attorneys General for the Antitrust Division

Current organizational structure

The Assistant Attorney General is assisted by Deputy Assistant Attorneys General. One of the DAAGs holds the position of "Principal Deputy," that is "first among equals," and "will typically assume the powers of the Assistant Attorney General in the Assistant Attorney General's absence."
, the Antitrust Division consists of these sections and offices:

Office of the Assistant Attorney General

  • Assistant Attorney General
  • Deputy Assistant Attorneys General
  • Chief of Staff and Senior Advisors
  • Directors of Enforcement
  • Office of the Chief Legal Advisor

    Civil Enforcement Program

  • Anti-Monopoly and Collusion Enforcement Section
  • Defense, Industrials, and Aerospace Section
  • Financial Services, Fintech, and Banking Section
  • Healthcare and Consumer Products Section
  • Media, Entertainment, and Communications Section
  • Technology and Digital Platforms Section
  • Transportation, Energy, and Agriculture Section

    Criminal Sections and Offices

  • Chicago Office
  • New York Office
  • San Francisco Office
  • Washington Criminal Section

    Expert Analysis Group

  • Economic Analysis Group

    Executive Office

  • Executive Office
  • Paralegal Unit

    Litigation Program

Policy and Advocacy Program

  • Appellate Section
  • Competition Policy and Advocacy Section
  • International Section
  • State Relations