Trump to Nominate Simons as FTC Chairman, Two Others to Commission

President Donald Trump is expected to nominate soon candidates to the three vacant FTC commissioner seats. They are former Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Assistant Director Rohit Chopra; Noah Phillips, chief counsel to Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas; and Paul Weiss antitrust lawyer Joseph Simons, a White House spokeswoman told us. Trump would designate Simons as FTC chairman if the Senate confirms him, the spokeswoman said.

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, congratulated Chopra and Simons Wednesday evening in a statement prior to White House confirmation of the picks. Lobbyists had long tipped the three likely nominees and Chopra had received the backing of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

The FTC has two members now, and is led by Republican acting Chairman Maureen Ohlhausen. The agency didn't comment.