( October 22, 2026, 16:37 GMT | Official Statement) -- MLex Summary: US Senator Elizabeth Warren released a new report finding that the Trump administration’s “record of toothless antitrust settlements, dismissed enforcement actions, and widespread approval of massive corporate mergers” have created “a pay-to-play system that drives up costs and hurts consumers.” According to the report, the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission have approved major mergers with little scrutiny, overridden enforcement recommendations from career staff, and pursued weak settlements favoring large corporations, often based on the influence of Trump-connected corporate lobbyists. The report also raises concerns about potential pay-to-play arrangements, revealing that many of the corporations benefitting from President Trump’s antitrust enforcement policies have contributed millions to Trump’s political committees and affiliated projects. Senators Mazie Hirono and Richard Blumenthal and Representatives Becca Balint, Pramila Jayapal, and Jerry Nadler joined in releasing the report.Statement follows in full. Also see attached file. ...
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