On Wednesday, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requested a postponement of a trial against Amazon, accusing it of deceptive practices concerning its Prime subscription service. The FTC cited staffing and budget challenges as the reasons for the request. This case, under the supervision of U.S. District Judge John Chun, originated from a lawsuit filed by the FTC in Washington state back in 2023.
Jonathan Cohen, representing the FTC, expressed the agency’s current limitations during a hearing, stating, “Our resource constraints are severe and really unique to this moment.” He noted a significant loss of employees within the FTC, including those directly involved with the case. In response to Judge Chun’s inquiry about whether these challenges stemmed from recent federal budget cuts, Cohen confirmed they were. He also attributed staff departures to an email entitled “Fork in the road,” allegedly sent by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency earlier in the year. Additionally, a government hiring freeze has led to unfilled positions.
The trial against Amazon was initially slated to begin in September. However, the FTC now seeks a short delay to extend certain deadlines, requesting a continuance of about two months, emphasizing the intent not to push the trial back too far. Cohen explained the agency’s current struggle to meet a late April discovery deadline, while grappling with strict rules governing the procurement of court documents and travel logistics. He added that upcoming relocations could further impede trial preparations as staff need to vacate their current offices to potentially move into a new location.
Judge Chun questioned how conditions would improve within two months given the ongoing issues. Cohen replied that while a guarantee of improvement couldn’t be made, he believed the worst might have passed temporarily. He acknowledged the uncertainty of the situation, indicating further challenges could arise.
During the proceedings, Amazon’s attorney, John Hueston, countered the FTC’s delay request by asserting that most of the legal team involved remains employed at the agency. Hueston argued that typical staff changes shouldn’t justify postponing the trial, particularly as Amazon and its legal team have already made preparations. He stressed the company’s desire to proceed with the September date, anxious to clear its name after two years of anticipation.
The lawsuit, initiated under former FTC Chair Lina Khan, accused Amazon of enrolling consumers in the Prime program without proper consent and making cancellations unnecessarily difficult. This case was filed months before another lawsuit aimed at accusing Amazon of monopolistic practices, with that antitrust case expected to proceed to trial in October 2026.
Amid these legal challenges, Amazon has sought to improve relations with President Donald Trump, who previously criticized the company. Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s founder, expressed optimism about Trump’s second term. Notably, the company pledged a $1 million donation to Trump’s inauguration fund in December. Bezos, among other tech leaders, attended the inauguration as a guest.
Recently, Amazon’s Prime Video service commenced streaming Trump’s show, “The Apprentice,” and is developing a documentary about Melania Trump. In parallel, Bezos has been adjusting operations at The Washington Post, drawing criticism for decisions perceived as favorable to Trump. He defended the publication’s choice to refrain from endorsing a presidential candidate, seeing it as both “right” and “principled,” and denied any influence from his business interests.
