Top DOJ antitrust officials fired as tension grows in a Trump administration monopoly-fighting office

Source: CBS News

July 28, 2025 / 8:39 PM EDT


Two top Justice Department antitrust officials have been ousted, multiple sources told CBS News. Monday's firings follow internal tension CBS News previously reported on within the Justice Department's antitrust division, which investigates companies for anticompetitive behavior and sues to prevent monopolies.

The officials, Roger Alford and Bill Rinner, were both top deputies to Assistant Attorney General Gail Slater, who leads the team. Alford was principal deputy assistant attorney general and Rinner served as a deputy assistant attorney general and head of merger enforcement. Both officials served in the antitrust division during President Trump's first term.

It was unclear why they were fired, but sources said insubordination was cited in the dismissals. The two officials had been placed on administrative leave last week. Justice Department spokespeople did not immediately comment. CBS News has reached out to Alford and Rinner for comment.

Earlier this month, internal friction within the Justice Department's antitrust team led to private conversations in the Trump administration about whether to push out some staff or to work to smooth out the issues, according to multiple sources familiar with the situation.

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/top-doj-antitrust-officials-fired-as-tension-grows-in-a-trump-administration-monopoly-fighting-office/