The debate over Omnicom Group's $13 billion acquisition of Interpublic Group to create the world's largest advertising business came down to two people: Federal Trade Commission chairman Andrew Ferguson—and President Trump.
Trump has gotten involved in regulatory decisions big and small that once were made by independent agencies, dramatically shifting the balance of power across Washington and reordering how influence campaigns are waged.
Companies are directly approaching the president instead of pleading their cases with staff or senior officials at the agencies.
Disclosures of lobbying targeting the White House increased 70% in 2025, according to an analysis of federal lobbying filings by Bloomberg Government.
Agency leaders whom Trump perceives as not moving quickly enough to implement his agenda have found themselves in the president's crosshairs.
Trump recently ousted Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary, in large part due to his unwillingness to follow White House orders.
The way Trump has turned federal agencies into an arm of the presidency is a departure from previous administrations, said Adav Noti, executive director of the nonpartisan ethics watchdog Campaign Legal Center.
White House spokesman Kush Desai said the president had the right to be informed about and express his opinions on federal policymaking, including 'decision-making by so-called 'independent' agencies.'
Trump has an instinctive grasp of the issues the agency deals with, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr told the Journal.
Carr regularly briefs Trump and top White House aides about his decisions before making them, and often asks White House press officials for guidance on announcements.
The FCC coordinates more closely with White House offices than it did previously, administration officials said.
The agency has begun a probe of an ABC station in Houston regarding a recent interview with Texas Democrat James Talarico on 'The View' and whether the show should be considered a news show.
Disney accused the FCC of attempting to chill political speech.
The Federal Trade Commission, too, is transforming under a newly assertive Trump.
FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson has taken up the issue of anticonservative bias at social-media companies, sending Apple CEO Tim Cook a letter saying that the company's Apple News product may violate federal law by promoting liberal content and suppressing views from conservative outlets.
