Drew Maloney, president and CEO of the American Investment Council, warns that Lina Khan's antitrust agenda may harm the U.S. economy by undermining the significant contributions of private equity to small businesses and healthcare, according to a Financial Times opinion piece from late last month.

Khan, who chairs the Federal Trade Commission, has been promoting an antitrust agenda that jeopardizes the U.S. economy, according to Maloney's opinion piece. America, the article states, has an economy based on investments from private equity which supports small businesses. Recently, government officials have been threatening this foundation through various regulations, the piece argues.

Private equity investment is a greatly significant and beneficial part of the U.S. economy, according to the article. It is these investments that have historically boosted quality in industries like healthcare and additionally supplied support for areas where they were lacking, the article claims. In healthcare, private equity has provided hospitals, resources, doctors and nurses. 

Maloney states that he has gathered from those involved in small businesses and healthcare that private investment benefits businesses and communities alike. He specifically references a comment from Chase Begor, the founder of Otter Learning, who said that in his company, private investments were beneficial in attaining healthcare and various other advantages for employees. He goes on to say that Khan’s attempt to steer antitrust laws away from the “consumer welfare” current standard, which puts focus on the benefit of the consumer, will result in a slowing of the economy. The article argues that these new proposals are attacking businesses in a “power grab," suggesting merger regulations that are outdated and damaging.

Twelve million Americans hold jobs that are supported by private equity. Moreover, private equity has made investments in over 44,000 businesses since the year 2017, according to the article.