US Senate confirms Biden's antitrust head nominee

Today, Jonathan Kanter, President Biden's nominee to lead the United States Department of Justice's Antitrust Division was confirmed by the Senate, by a vote of 68 – 29. Kanter's confirmation was widely expected after a majority of the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to approve his appointment on October 28, 2021, during which he received support from both parties.

President Biden nominated Kanter for the position on July 20, 2021, describing him as "a leading advocate and expert in the effort to promote strong and meaningful antitrust enforcement and competition policy."

Kanter has practiced antitrust law for over two decades, during which he has been a high-profile critic of big tech and has advocated for increased antitrust enforcement against such companies. Kanter's confirmation continues the recent line of "progressive" antitrust advocates appointed by President Biden, which includes Lina Khan to chair the FTC and Tim Wu to serve on the National Economic Council.

Kanter was most recently in private practice at The Kanter Group, LLP, a boutique antitrust advocacy law firm he founded in 2020, and immediately prior he was the co-chair of the antitrust practice at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. He has also served as an attorney at the FTC's Bureau of Competition where he investigated and challenged several mergers.

Now that Kanter has been confirmed by the Senate, he is expected to take office immediately.