Federal Judge Blocks Rule Requiring More Merger Information
A Texas judge ruled that the FTC exceeded its authority with a rule requiring more data for deal reviews. The court found the agency failed to justify costs.
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A federal judge in the US 
US has blocked a 2024 Federal Trade Commission (FTC) rule that significantly expanded the volume of information companies are required to provide during merger reviews. In a decision issued today, February 13, 2026, Judge Jeremy Kernodle of the U.S. District Court in Tyler, Texas, ruled that the FTC exceeded its statutory authority. The court further found that the agency failed to demonstrate that the rule's purported benefits would outweigh the substantial costs imposed on businesses.
US has blocked a 2024 Federal Trade Commission (FTC) rule that significantly expanded the volume of information companies are required to provide during merger reviews. In a decision issued today, February 13, 2026, Judge Jeremy Kernodle of the U.S. District Court in Tyler, Texas, ruled that the FTC exceeded its statutory authority. The court further found that the agency failed to demonstrate that the rule's purported benefits would outweigh the substantial costs imposed on businesses.
