The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced that it will hold a public workshop titled “Moving Forward: Protecting Workers from Anticompetitive Noncompete Agreements” on January 27, 2026. The event is scheduled to take place at the FTC’s Headquarters from 1:00pm to 5:00pm. While registration is required for in-person attendance, those interested can watch the livestream without registering.
Noncompete agreements are contracts between employers and workers that often prevent employees from joining competing businesses or starting similar ventures after leaving their jobs. According to the FTC, these agreements are frequently misused.
The upcoming workshop is part of ongoing efforts by the Trump-Vance FTC to address concerns about how noncompete agreements affect American workers and to clarify current enforcement priorities for businesses. The event will be organized by the FTC’s Joint Labor Task Force, established by Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson with the aim of addressing deceptive, unfair, and anticompetitive labor-market practices.
This initiative follows several recent actions by the agency, including an enforcement measure that removed certain restrictive noncompete clauses, letters sent to healthcare companies advising them to review such agreements, and a request for public information intended to support further enforcement.
During the workshop, statements will be made by FTC Commissioners, individuals affected by noncompete agreements, and subject matter experts. Details about speakers and the full agenda will be released ahead of the event. A link for the livestream will be available on FTC.gov on the day of the workshop.
The FTC states its mission is to promote competition and protect consumers through education and enforcement. It also advises that it does not request money or make threats as part of its communications. More information about competition benefits, filing complaints, or commenting on mergers can be found on its website.
