Amy Klobuchar introduces bill to strengthen the Tunney Act
Updated
Updated · openmarketsinstitute.org · May 5
Amy Klobuchar introduces bill to strengthen the Tunney Act
11 articles · Updated · openmarketsinstitute.org · May 5
The March proposal follows 2025-26 Justice Department settlements involving HPE-Juniper, Live Nation and Paramount-Warner Bros that critics say reflected Trump-allied lobbying and political intervention.
It would require tougher judicial scrutiny of antitrust settlements, let state attorneys general intervene as of right, and apply the same settlement rules to both the DOJ and FTC.
The push comes as states challenged several federal settlements, including a Live Nation case that produced a favorable verdict last month, and amid concerns presidential control over independent agencies could expand.
With states winning cases the federal government drops, is national antitrust enforcement becoming obsolete?
Will stricter merger reviews in the West simply push more strategic tech acquisitions toward China?
As AI models consume news content, can new laws prevent tech giants from bankrupting publishers?
Closing Loopholes in Antitrust Settlements: Key Reforms of the 2026 Antitrust Accountability and Transparency Act
Overview
In March 2026, Senator Amy Klobuchar introduced the Antitrust Accountability and Transparency Act (AATA) in response to political interference and weak enforcement in major antitrust cases, notably the controversial Live Nation-Ticketmaster settlement. This settlement faced rejection from 34 state attorneys general who continued litigation independently, highlighting flaws in the existing Tunney Act, such as limited judicial scrutiny, lack of transparency, premature merger integration, and exclusion of the FTC and states from oversight. The AATA proposes reforms including extending judicial review to the FTC, mandating full disclosure, imposing a 90-day hold-separate period, raising court standards, and empowering state attorneys general. Supported by bipartisan lawmakers and former officials, the bill aims to restore integrity and protect consumers, workers, and small businesses from anti-competitive practices.