Senate panel approves Schumer aide for FTC post

The Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday approved one of President Trump’s Democratic nominees to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Rebecca Slaughter, a legal adviser to Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), was advanced by voice vote during a hearing.

Slaughter joins four other nominees — three Republicans and one Democrat — currently awaiting a full Senate vote to be confirmed to the consumer protection agency.

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The FTC has been operating with just two commissioners, one from each party, since Trump took office more than a year ago. Terrell McSweeny, the lone Democrat on the commission, will step down after Friday.

The new slate of commissioners is set to face several pressing issues should they be confirmed to their FTC posts.

The agency recently announced an investigation into Facebook’s handling of the Cambridge Analytica scandal to determine if the social network violated a 2011 consent decree over previous privacy charges.

And the FTC will soon have an expanded jurisdiction over internet service providers once the Federal Communications Commission’s repeal of net neutrality goes into effect.