NGA leads group calling for increased antitrust enforcement funding

June 3, 2025 Washington, D.C. – In a powerful show of unity and resolve, a coalition of more than 40 business organizations and associations, led by the National Grocers Association (NGA) BB #:163424, sent a letter to Congress making the case for robust funding for the Department of Justice Antitrust Division and the Federal Trade Commission.

The letter, addressed to Congressional appropriators, urges immediate investment in the federal agencies responsible for enforcing U.S. antitrust laws and warns of dire economic consequences if Congress fails to act.

“At a time when monopolistic power is threatening the very backbone of the American marketplace, Congress must not shortchange the watchdogs charged with defending competition,” the letter states. “Without adequate resources, the Antitrust Division and the FTC simply cannot do their jobs. The result is a market tilted in favor of entrenched power, not free enterprise.”

From independent grocers and community pharmacists to hotel owners, seed producers, and local business alliances, the signees span industries and regions. Still, they all agree: unchecked monopoly power is hurting consumers, crushing small businesses, and distorting markets. The broad coalition calls for $288 million for the Antitrust Division and $300 million for the FTC’s competition mission in FY2026—a modest investment compared to the cost of allowing monopolies to run rampant.

“This isn’t about writing new laws. This is about enforcing the ones we already have,” said Chris Jones, NGA’s chief government relations officer. “American entrepreneurs are not afraid of competition, but they need a level playing field to compete fairly. That’s not possible when the referees are underfunded and often overlooked by Congress.”

The letter highlights the staggering gap between economic growth and enforcement funding. While GDP has grown by 37% since 2010, antitrust enforcement budgets have increased by only 3%. Meanwhile, dominant national firms continue to consolidate power across multiple industries, threatening innovation, supply chains, and local economies nationwide.

“Fair competition is a bipartisan issue and a basic principle of capitalism,” said Jones. “If Congress is serious about economic freedom and consumer protection, it needs to fund the agencies that safeguard competition sufficiently.”

The full letter, along with a complete list of signees, is available here.

About NGA
NGA is the national trade association representing the retail and wholesale community grocers that comprise the independent sector of the food distribution industry. An independent retailer is a privately owned or controlled food retail company operating a variety of formats. The independent grocery sector is accountable for about 1.2 percent of the nation’s overall economy and is responsible for generating more than $250 billion in sales, 1.1 million jobs, $39 billion in wages and $36 billion in taxes. NGA members include retail and wholesale grocers located in every congressional district across the country, as well as state grocers’ associations, manufacturers and service suppliers. For more information about NGA, visit www.nationalgrocers.org.