The head of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, Gail Slater, just announced she is leaving her critical post, effective immediately, creating a huge leadership void at a pivotal moment for American corporate mergers, as reported by NBC News. This is genuinely shocking news, especially when you look at the sheer volume of massive corporate battles happening right now.
Slater posted her resignation on X, expressing both sadness and hope for the future of the division. She said, “It is with great sadness and abiding hope that I leave my role as AAG for Antitrust today.” Slater added that it was “indeed the honor of a lifetime to serve in this role,” thanking the men and women of the department who supported her.
The timing couldn’t be worse for the DOJ, and it looks like it’s not just her leaving. Her deputy, Mark Hamer, also stepped down this week to return to private practice. That’s a serious one-two punch of instability for the division that handles the nation’s biggest corporate oversight cases. Hamer praised his former boss on LinkedIn, calling her a “leader of exceptional wisdom, strength and integrity.”
It’s tough to see such a respected leader step away at this juncture
The biggest immediate issue on the table is the intense bidding war for Warner Bros. Discovery, which has media giants Netflix and Paramount Skydance battling it out for control. President Trump had initially suggested he was going to get personally involved in reviewing whichever Warner Bros. deal proceeded, which is certainly unusual for antitrust cases. However, he recently changed his mind on the matter.
The president had met with executives from both bidding companies before deciding to step back from the direct review. In an interview with NBC News, the president said, “I’ve been called by both sides, it’s the two sides, but I’ve decided I shouldn’t be involved.” He confirmed that “The Justice Department will handle it.” Now, the department handling it is suddenly without its top two leaders.
Investors clearly think Slater’s departure is good news for Live Nation, which is wild. Shares of the company jumped as much as 5.8% right after the announcement. The rally cooled off a bit, settling around 2.5% by 1:00 PM Eastern Time, but that initial spike tells you everything you need to know about the perceived shift in enforcement energy.
When the Senate confirmed Slater, she earned overwhelming bipartisan support, with 78 senators voting for her and only 19 opposing her confirmation. That kind of approval is rare these days, making her immediate exit even more surprising.
Attorney General Pam Bondi released a statement thanking Slater for her commitment. Bondi said, “On behalf of the Department of Justice, we thank Gail Slater for her service to the Antitrust Division which works to protect consumers, promote affordability, and expand economic opportunity.”
Published: Feb 13, 2026 01:30 pm