Conservative Groups Push for 35% Boost in FTC Funding
The advocacy group leaders highlighted major settlements and accomplishments as reasons for expanding budget.
WASHINGTON, March 16, 2026 – Prominent conservative leaders want a big budget increase for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) led by Chairman Andrew Ferguson.
In a letter sent to the House and Senate leaders for the appropriations committee on Friday, ten political advocacy group leaders applauded the FTC’s accomplishments and urged for an appropriation to the FTC of $575 million for fiscal year 2027, a 35% increase over current levels.
“While conservatives rarely advocate for larger budgets for government agencies, we believe the Federal Trade Commission qualifies as a notable exception because of its ability to yield an exceptional return on investment,” the letter said.
The signatories included Family Policy Alliance President Craig DeRoche, The Ethics and Public Policy Center Fellow Clare Morell, American Principles Project President Terry Schilling, and Center for American Rights President Daniel Suhr. The ten organizations have been known to hold conservative viewpoints.
The letter noted that expanding the budget would allow the commission to continue its work in protecting the public from “unfair methods of competition and also to deliver even greater value to American consumers and taxpayers.”
The advocacy group leaders listed the FTC’s recent achievements, including its $2.5 billion settlement with Amazon, which allowed consumers to be refunded $1.5 billion and the U.S. Treasury to receive $1 billion in civil penalties. The letter also praised the FTC’s $100 million settlement with Walmart and the $60 million settlement with Instacart.
The letter also mentioned the FTC’s progress in the housing sector with its $24 million settlement with Greystar and in protecting children online with its $10 million settlement with Disney, as part of enforcement of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).
“Chairman Ferguson has proven himself a skillful steward of taxpayer dollars, maximizing the FTC’s efficiency and effectiveness during his tenure,” the letter said. “We have every confidence he will continue to deliver these types of results for both consumers and taxpayers.”
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