FTC Reverses Request to Delay Amazon Prime Trial, Citing No Resource Shortage

The Federal Trade Commission initially claimed staffing and budgetary constraints but later affirmed readiness to proceed with the September trial against Amazon over deceptive Prime practices.

FTC attorney Jonathan Cohen initially requested a two-month delay for the Amazon Prime trial, citing resource shortages due to federal workforce cuts and a hiring freeze.
Hours later, Cohen retracted his statement, affirming the FTC has sufficient resources and is fully prepared to meet court deadlines.
The trial, scheduled for September 22, 2025, stems from a 2023 lawsuit accusing Amazon of using 'dark patterns' to enroll users in Prime subscriptions and complicate cancellations.
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, has implemented widespread federal workforce reductions, which Cohen initially linked to the FTC's challenges.
Amazon denies wrongdoing in the case, asserting the FTC's claims are unfounded and plans to defend itself vigorously in court.