FTC Asks Judge to Postpone Amazon Case Citing Staffing Issues

FTC Asks Judge to Postpone Amazon Case Citing Staffing Issues \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has asked a federal judge to delay its Amazon Prime lawsuit trial, citing staff shortages and budget constraints caused by government hiring freezes and agency cuts. The trial, originally scheduled for September, accuses Amazon of deceptive Prime subscription practices. Amazon opposes the delay, arguing that the government’s legal team remains intact. Meanwhile, Amazon is strengthening ties with Trump, drawing further scrutiny.

FTC’s Amazon Trial Delay Request Quick Looks

• FTC Seeks Postponement: The agency cites staffing issues and financial constraints.
• Amazon Pushes Back: The company says the government’s legal team is still intact.
• Budget Cuts Blamed: FTC says a hiring freeze and staff resignations have weakened its ability to prepare.
• Trial Originally Set for September: The FTC wants only a short delay of two months.
• Amazon Strengthens Trump Ties: Company donates $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund and backs media projects connected to him.
• Lawsuit Background: FTC alleges Amazon tricked consumers into Prime subscriptions and made cancellations difficult.
• Bigger Legal Battles Ahead: Amazon also faces a separate antitrust trial set for 2026.

Deep Look

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requested a trial delay on Wednesday, citing severe staffing shortages and budget constraints that have impacted its ability to prepare for a major lawsuit against Amazon. The lawsuit, filed in 2023, accuses Amazon of deceptive practices in its Prime subscription program, including signing up consumers without consent and making cancellation difficult.

Originally scheduled for September, the FTC now seeks a two-month postponement, but Amazon is fighting back, arguing that the trial should proceed as planned.

FTC’s Justification: Staff Shortages and Resource Constraints

During a status hearing before U.S. District Judge John Chun, FTC attorney Jonathan Cohen outlined the agency’s challenges.

“Our resource constraints are severe and really unique to this moment,” Cohen told the court. “We have lost employees in the agency, in our division, and on the case team.”

Key reasons for the staffing crisis:

• A government hiring freeze has prevented the FTC from replacing departing staff.
• Some employees resigned after receiving a “Fork in the Road” email from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency in January.
• Budget restrictions have limited travel, court document purchases, and discovery work.
• FTC staffers must vacate their office building in April, potentially relocating to an unused USAID facility.

When Judge Chun asked whether these issues would improve in two months, Cohen admitted there were no guarantees but expressed hope that the situation had stabilized.

Amazon Opposes Delay, Says Trial Should Stay on Schedule

Amazon’s lead attorney, John Hueston, strongly opposed the FTC’s request, arguing that:

• Most of the original FTC legal team remains employed.
• Changes in legal teams happen often and don’t justify a delay.
• Amazon executives and legal teams have already cleared their schedules for a September trial.
• The company has been eager to “clear its name” for more than two years.

“We really want to keep the date,” Hueston stated.

The case was originally brought under former FTC Chair Lina Khan, who led aggressive actions against Big Tech. The FTC lawsuit accuses Amazon of:

• Enrolling customers in Prime without their explicit consent.
• Making the cancellation process excessively difficult.

The lawsuit is separate from a larger antitrust case against Amazon, scheduled for trial in October 2026, which challenges the company’s dominance in online retail.

Amazon’s Growing Ties with Trump Amid Legal Battles

While Amazon fights its legal battles, it is also strengthening its relationship with President Donald Trump, who criticized the company during his first term but now appears to be on friendlier terms with its leadership.

Amazon’s Recent Moves to Align with Trump:

• In December, Amazon donated $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund.
• Amazon founder Jeff Bezos expressed “optimism” about Trump’s second term.
• Prime Video began streaming “The Apprentice,” the reality TV show that made Trump a household name.
• Amazon is working on a documentary about Melania Trump, promising “unprecedented behind-the-scenes access.”

The Washington Post’s Shift Under Bezos

Bezos also made controversial changes at The Washington Post, which he owns, drawing accusations of favoring Trump:

• The newspaper chose not to endorse a presidential candidate in 2024, breaking tradition.
• Bezos defended the decision as “principled”, rejecting claims that he was protecting Amazon’s business interests.

Critics argue these actions suggest Amazon is seeking to improve its relationship with Trump, who could influence future regulatory actions against the company.

What’s Next? Judge to Decide on Trial Date

With both sides making strong arguments, Judge Chun must now decide whether to:

1. Grant the FTC’s request for a short two-month delay.
2. Keep the trial on schedule for September, as Amazon demands.

The case is a major test for the FTC, which has taken aggressive action against tech giants under Lina Khan’s leadership. If the trial is delayed, it could signal weakening enforcement due to resource constraints under Trump’s administration.

Meanwhile, Amazon’s deepening ties with Trump raise questions about corporate influence over regulatory policies in the years ahead.

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