Lina Khan named FTC chair by Biden in victory for Big Tech's critics

As chairwoman, Khan will need a majority of five-member agency to make enforcement decisions, have significant control over staff who conduct agency's competition, consumer protection investigation

President Joe Biden named Lina Khan chairwoman of the Federal Trade Commission, an unexpected move that puts one of the most prominent advocates of aggressive antitrust enforcement against U.S. technology giants in charge of the agency.

News of Khan’s appointment came hours after the Senate confirmed her for a seat on the FTC by a vote of 69-28. She will take over the agency from Acting Chairwoman Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, who has been a commissioner for three years and had been expected by some to be tapped by Biden to lead the agency permanently.

Khan’s elevation to chairwoman marks her rapid rise