The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has officially severed all ties with the American Bar Association (ABA), barring political appointees from participating in the organization and blocking federal funds from supporting ABA activities. FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson made the announcement, calling the ABA the “lawyer’s wing of the Democratic Party.”

Under the new directive, FTC officials cannot hold leadership roles within the ABA, attend ABA events, or renew memberships using federal resources. The move comes after the ABA issued a statement attacking the Trump administration’s policies, particularly its efforts to reform USAID and limit diversity programs in government agencies.

FTC Chairman Ferguson announces new policy regarding American Bar Association: https://t.co/SzBl8Apg7P

— FTC (@FTC) February 14, 2025

Ferguson accused the ABA of disguising political activism as legal advocacy. He highlighted the organization’s history of issuing negative ratings for conservative judicial nominees, enforcing leftist diversity initiatives, and opposing Trump’s national security policies. He also pointed out the ABA’s financial ties to USAID, which awarded the association over $39 million in taxpayer-funded grants last year.

🚨NEW: FTC Chairman prohibits any political appointees from joining the American Bar Assosication (ABA), calls them out for recieving USAID funds.

"ABA received more than $22 million from USAID and nearly $17 million from the State Department in taxpayer-funded grants and… pic.twitter.com/VxVhIuIRet

— Walter Curt (@WCdispatch_) February 15, 2025

The decision to cut ties with the ABA has received strong support from conservatives, including Sen. Mike Lee, who has long criticized the group’s influence over judicial nominations and law school accreditation. “The ABA has every right to exist as a leftist institution, but let’s not pretend it’s anything other than a leftist advocacy group,” Lee stated.

“The ABA’s outburst was nothing short of a political diatribe, accusing the Trump-Vance administration of “wide-scale affronts to the rule of law,” while conveniently ignoring the nation’s crippling $36 trillion debt crisis.”

— gail newman (@gail834) February 16, 2025

Elon Musk also weighed in, calling the ABA a “far-left political organization.” With the FTC leading the charge, other federal agencies may soon follow in distancing themselves from the ABA.

Great to see FTC Chairman taking a stand against the ABA's leftist agenda

The ABA has lost all credibility with its support for unconstitutional measures like the Equal Rights Amendment

Biden and the left are trying to push their radical ideology through any means possible, but…

— Stop Socialist Tyranny (@endlibtyranny) February 15, 2025

🚨FTC CUTS TIES WITH THE ABA—“LAWYER’S WING OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY”

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) just cut all ties with the American Bar Association (ABA)—banning officials from joining, speaking at, or sending taxpayer money to the group.@BasedMikeLee praised the more,… https://t.co/02DusMMDes pic.twitter.com/UsgMPzPiLo

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) February 15, 2025