Americans have reaped protection from a largely unsung hero for more than a century. Safeguarded by the invisible, yet formidable, congressional mandate of the Federal Trade Commission, consumers can be confident that their government is working vigilantly to defend against fraud, deception and unfair business practices in the marketplace.
As a former Energy and Commerce Committee member, I am well aware of the vital role the Federal Trade Commission plays in protecting Americans. However, my former position also makes me particularly sensitive to diversions from the FTC’s primary goal of protecting the American consumer.
Having represented a district with a significant number of federal employees, I understand that the beating heart of any agency is the workers. When widespread grievances permeate an agency’s culture, it’s usually a sign that there may be an issue at hand. That’s why reports of low employee morale and high turnover rates at the FTC raise concerns about the current state of the commission.
As I looked further into the agency’s direction, what I found most worrisome is what seems to be a loss of focus on the FTC’s bread-and-butter consumer protection role — like detecting and preventing fraud. Unfortunately, this key objective seems to have fallen through the cracks at the agency as it pursues novel applications of the law and files long-shot antitrust cases.
As inflation raises expenses for U.S. households, consumers are at the same time increasingly losing money to fraudsters. According to the FTC’s data on fraud reports it received in 2022, Americans lost $8.8 billion last year. Sadly, the cost of these scams often falls on those least able to afford it.
According to the FTC’s Serving Communities of Color report, “predominantly Black communities filed consumer reports at a higher rate than predominantly White or Latino communities.” Additionally, Black and Latino consumers report increased fraud via payment methods that do not incorporate fraud protections as many credit cards do. This exacerbates income inequality for families in traditionally marginalized communities trying to build wealth.
Starting a new job is never easy — that goes for everyone, from entry-level associates to chairs of commissions. I appreciate a new, progressive approach to the FTC’s mandate. The commission seems to have prioritized antitrust cases that it believes will benefit consumers. However, it is imperative that under this new regime, the commission not lose sight of the day-to-day aspects of American life over which the FTC must maintain vigilant oversight.
The FTC plays far too important of a role in protecting consumers from losing sight of its mission. For that reason, Congress must conduct regular oversight of the FTC to ensure the commission prioritizes consumers’ needs in every policy discussion.
As our digital and interconnected world creates more consumer risks, we cannot lose sight of the agency’s core function and the importance of protecting Americans from fraud.
Albert Wynn is a former Democratic member of the House of Representatives from Maryland/InsideSources