New Executive Order Aims to Reshape Market Competition

On April 9, 2025, President Donald Trump put pen to paper, signing an executive order that promises to shake up how competition works in American markets. It’s a sweeping directive, one that tells federal agencies to hunt down and dismantle regulations seen as roadblocks to a thriving economy. The White House says it’s about slashing prices, sparking innovation, and giving consumers more options, a pitch that lands hard for anyone who’s ever grumbled about rising costs or slim pickings at the store.

The order doesn’t mince words. Agency heads, working with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Attorney General, have 70 days to comb through their rulebooks. They’re tasked with spotting anything that props up monopolies, blocks new businesses from jumping in, or tangles up government buying processes. It’s a tight deadline, and the stakes feel real for everyday people wondering if this could actually lighten their wallets.

The plan hinges on a straightforward idea: fewer rules mean more players in the game. Agency leaders are directed to list every regulation that might be choking competition, then propose fixes or outright cuts. Those changes will feed into a broader regulatory overhaul already underway since February, tied to another Trump order. Supporters argue it’s a recipe for growth, pointing to historical wins like the 1970s airline deregulation, which slashed fares and opened skies to new carriers.

But it’s not all smooth flying. Deregulation’s track record shows mixed results. Take Texas energy markets, where looser rules brought flexibility but left the grid gasping during the 2021 freeze. Or consider banking, where lighter oversight fueled innovation before the 2008 crash exposed gaping risks. Analysts say the devil’s in the details, execution matters, and unchecked market power could flip the script, leaving consumers with higher prices instead of relief.

Here’s where it gets interesting: the public’s invited to weigh in. The FTC’s chairman is on the hook to gather input from regular people, asking them to flag rules that strangle small businesses or kill jobs. Think of it as a nationwide suggestion box, with the promise that solid ideas will get passed along to the right agencies. It’s a nod to the notion that folks on the ground, not just suits in Washington, know what’s gumming up the works.

This isn’t a new trick. The Biden administration leaned hard into public feedback too, using webinars and outreach to shape rules. Studies show it can work, making policies sharper and fairer when voices from outside the bubble get heard. Yet skeptics point out a catch: unless agencies act on what they hear, it’s just noise. Past efforts, like the 1946 comment rules, often saw big players drown out the little guy. Will this time be different? That’s the gamble.

This order fits into a larger push to peel back federal oversight, a hallmark of Trump’s economic playbook. It echoes moves like his recent mineral production order, which fast-tracked mining permits to shore up U.S. supply chains. Globally, competition’s a hot topic too, with antitrust watchdogs in the EU slapping fines on tech giants and the DOJ here digging into wage-fixing. The U.S. wants to stay ahead, and backers say trimming red tape is the ticket.

History offers clues but no guarantees. Peru’s 2013 reforms axed local barriers and saw productivity spike, a win for firms and workers alike. Canada’s eyeing a 7% GDP boost if it can untangle its own trade snarls. But pitfalls loom, from market chaos to entrenched players gaming the system. For the average person, it’s a wait-and-see game: will this spark a boom or just shuffle the deck?

The clock’s ticking as agencies scramble to meet the 70-day deadline. If they deliver, the changes could ripple fast, reshaping everything from grocery shelves to gas pumps. Advocates cheer the prospect of new businesses popping up and prices dipping, while others warn of consolidation creep if oversight slips too far. It’s a high-wire act, balancing freedom with fairness, and the outcome’s far from set.

For now, it’s a rare chance to peek under the hood of how rules shape daily life. People feeling squeezed by big firms or endless fees might find this a lifeline, or at least a shot at being heard. Whether it ushers in that promised golden age or stumbles over old traps, one thing’s clear: the debate over competition’s future just got louder, and it’s not going quiet anytime soon.