The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has reversed its decision to request a delay in the Amazon Prime deceptive practices case, hours after making the initial request due to resource constraints. The agency’s attorney, Jonathan Cohen, said he was “wrong” and assured that the FTC is fully prepared to litigate the case.
In a letter to the court, Cohen stated that the commission does not have resource constraints and will meet whatever schedule and deadlines set by the court. FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson confirmed that Cohen’s initial delay request was incorrect, saying the agency will commit the necessary resources for the case.
The decision comes amid efforts by the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency to reduce spending. The department has slashed the federal government’s workforce by over 62,000 workers in February alone. However, the FTC’s reversal suggests that it is not affected by these measures.
Amazon declined to comment on the matter. Attorneys for Amazon had initially opposed the delay request, saying there was no evidence that the government lacked resources to proceed with the trial as scheduled. The case, which alleges Amazon deceived millions of customers into signing up for its Prime program, is set to go to trial on September 22.
The FTC has filed two cases against Amazon in recent months: one alleging deceptive practices and another accusing the company of wielding an illegal monopoly. These cases are set to go to trial in October 2026 and September 2024, respectively.
Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/12/ftc-asks-to-delay-amazon-prime-deceptive-practices-case-citing-staffing-shortfalls.html