FTC Requests Amazon Prime Trial Delay, Citing Severe Resource Constraints

The agency attributes its staffing and budget shortfalls to federal workforce cuts by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.

The FTC has asked a federal judge to delay a September trial accusing Amazon of deceptive practices in its Prime subscription program by two months.
FTC attorney Jonathan Cohen cited significant staffing losses and budget restrictions as reasons for the delay, stemming from federal workforce cuts led by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
The FTC alleges that Amazon used 'dark patterns' to mislead customers into signing up for Prime subscriptions and made it difficult to cancel them, potentially affecting claims worth over $1 billion.
Amazon opposes the delay, arguing that the FTC has not demonstrated a lack of resources to proceed as scheduled and that most of the trial team remains intact.
The FTC faces additional challenges, including restrictive spending rules, a hiring freeze, and a potential office relocation, further complicating trial preparations.