FTC Faces Internal Challenges in Amazon Prime Case
The FTC initially delayed its case against Amazon citing resource constraints after accusing the company of unauthorized enrollments into its Prime program, but it quickly retracted the delay request, affirming that it is prepared to proceed.
Published on April 6, 2025
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) initially asked for a delay in its case against Amazon, citing resource constraints amid a challenging internal environment. On March 12, 2025, reports indicated that staffing shortages and budget cuts—allegedly stemming from previous administration policies—were hampering the agency's trial preparations. The agency had accused Amazon in 2023 of enrolling customers into its Prime program without proper consent and creating obstacles to cancel the service.
Following intense media scrutiny, the FTC retracted its delay request by March 13, 2025, stating that it now has adequate resources to proceed with litigation. This reversal has raised questions about internal processes and decision-making within the commission as it moves forward with the case against Amazon.