Lina Khan, chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), has been named one of The Hill’s 24 Changemakers for 2024. At 35, Khan is the youngest-ever FTC chair and has gained a reputation as a trailblazer in antitrust law. Under her leadership, the FTC has actively pursued cases against powerful corporations like Amazon, Microsoft, and Lockheed Martin, focusing on consumer protection and antitrust enforcement. Khan’s efforts have drawn both praise and criticism, especially from big businesses and lawmakers, who have lobbied for her removal.
Khan’s aggressive approach to antitrust law includes blocking major corporate mergers and addressing the issue of junk fees, such as those seen with Live Nation and Ticketmaster during Taylor Swift’s Eras tour. The FTC recently passed a rule requiring full disclosure of prices early in the purchasing process, set to take effect after Khan’s tenure.
Khan’s background includes writing the seminal 2017 article “Amazon’s Antitrust Paradox,” which criticized the inability of existing antitrust laws to address the monopolistic power of tech giants. Lina Khan previously served as counsel for the U.S. House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Antitrust and taught as an associate professor at Columbia Law School.
Born in London, Khan earned her B.A. in Political Theory from Williams College and her J.D. from Yale Law School. She moved to the U.S. with her family when she was 11. Her work has earned her recognition as a leading figure in antitrust law, with accolades including being named to Time’s Next 100 list.
