FTC Chairman Ferguson Discusses Staffing Levels and Funding with Rep. Steny Hoyer

FTC Staffing Reduction and Funding Concerns

• 🎯 Rep. Steny Hoyer questioned FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson regarding proposed staff cuts and current staffing levels.
• 📉 The FTC is currently down 1,221 FTEs and aims to reduce employee levels further to approximately 1100 FTEs.
• 💰 This reduction is largely driven by attrition, including voluntary retirements and a deferred resignation program, to align staffing with current appropriations.

Agency Funding and Operational Capacity

• ⚠️ Chairman Ferguson stated that the agency was previously overstaffed, using carryover funds for payroll, which is unsustainable.
• 💡 The goal is to reach a "healthy" employee level without resorting to layoffs, by offering early out programs.
• 📊 Hoyer inquired about studies defining the appropriate funding level to meet the FTC's numerous objectives, but Ferguson indicated that funding decisions are made by the committee.

Maximizing Taxpayer Return on Investment

• 📈 Ferguson emphasized that regardless of funding levels, the FTC will maximize the American taxpayers' return on investment by recovering funds from fraud and lowering prices.
• 🌟 He praised the FTC staff as the best civilian staff in the federal government.
• 🏛️ The "healthy" level of around 1100 employees is considered affordable and sufficient to accomplish the agency's mission, with a shift in priority towards law enforcement over rulemaking.

Future Funding and Objectives

• ❓ Hoyer asked for the FTC's recommended staffing level to accomplish its stated objectives, requesting this information for the record.
• 💼 Ferguson confirmed that 1100 FTEs is a healthy level given the current CR funding, and the agency will get the job done.