The U.S. Justice Department under the Trump administration is streamlining its merger review process to be less burdensome for businesses. The new model will fast-track investigations by initially focusing information requests on a deal's most glaring antitrust risks, allowing some deals to close sooner. The approach has already been used in two reviews in 2026.
DOJ merger review streamlining
- ▪The U.S. Justice Department will fast-track merger investigations by reducing the amount of information companies must initially provide
- ▪The policy change is part of the Trump administration's approach to antitrust reviews
- ▪The new approach is intended to make the government's antitrust review process less burdensome for businesses
Targeted information requests
- ▪If the Justice Department's initial concerns are resolved in the first phase, the merger review will end
- ▪The new, targeted approach will not be used in every merger review case
- ▪The DOJ's antitrust division will first focus information requests on the most glaring or apparent competition risks of a transaction
Deal timeline impact
- ▪The Justice Department has already used the new approach in two merger reviews in 2026, allowing the deals to close sooner
- ▪In exchange for a focused initial review, companies must agree to give the government more time for a thorough assessment if needed
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