Federal Trade Commissioner Sworn in, Giving Dems Voting Majority

The agency tasked with overseeing tech giants like Google, Facebook and Amazon is now whole after the swearing in of Alvaro Bedoya Monday.

Bedoya, founding director of the Center on Privacy & Technology at Georgetown University Law Center, was confirmed May 11 after Vice President Kamala Harris broke a 50-50 tie with her deciding vote. The vote itself was the culmination of eight months of contentious hearings and posturing between Republicans and Democrats given Bedoya gives Democrats a 3-2 majority in the five-commissioner body.

“I am deeply grateful to President Biden and Vice President Harris for the trust they have placed in me, and Leader [Chuck] Schumer, [D-N.Y.], for moving my nomination forward,” Bedoya said in a statement issued on Twitter.  

Beyoda joins Democrats, FTC Chair Lina Khan and Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, and Republican commissioners Christine Wilson and Noah Phillips. A Democratic majority allows Khan to pursue a more progressive agenda.

“Alvaro’s knowledge, experience and energy will be a great asset to the FTC as we pursue our critical work. I’m excited to begin working with him, along with our other commissioners, once his appointment is made final by President [Joe] Biden,” Khan said in a statement.