The DOJ's Deregulatory Turn: How Antitrust Enforcement Could Reshape Industries in 2025

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has shifted its antitrust strategy in 2025, positioning itself as a deregulatory advocate rather than a regulator. Under Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater, the DOJ’s Antitrust Division is focusing on dismantling “burdensome regulations” that stifle competition, marking a sharp departure from past approaches. This pivot, anchored in Executive Orders 14192 and 14219, aims to lower costs for consumers and small businesses by eliminating anticompetitive policies in key sectors.

The Deregulation Playbook: Sectors in the Crosshairs

The DOJ’s newly launched Anticompetitive Regulations Task Force is targeting five industries: housing, transportation, healthcare, food/agriculture, and energy. Each faces distinct regulatory hurdles that the DOJ claims inflate prices and entrench monopolies.

Housing Markets: Regulations like zoning restrictions, construction permits, and fees are being scrutinized for their role in inflating housing costs. The Task Force argues that easing these barriers could boost housing supply and affordability.

Homebuilders like D.R. Horton could benefit if regulatory burdens ease, allowing faster project approvals and cost reductions.

Transportation: Antitrust immunities and monopolistic protections, such as those shielding railroads or trucking monopolies, are under review. The DOJ’s focus here aligns with its push to lower shipping costs, a boon for e-commerce giants and logistics firms.

Healthcare: Regulations incentivizing provider consolidation—such as those favoring large hospital systems—are being challenged. The Task Force aims to promote competition among healthcare providers, which could reduce prices after a 27% surge in grocery and medical costs during the Biden-Harris administration.

Health insurers like UnitedHealth, which have thrived in a consolidated market, may face pressure if smaller competitors gain ground.

Food and Agriculture: The Task Force is targeting regulations that favor large agribusinesses, such as barriers to entry for small farmers. This could lower grocery prices, a priority after the recent surge in food costs.

Agribusiness giants like ADM might see competitive pressures rise as smaller players gain access to markets.

Energy: Regulations protecting incumbent utilities from competition—such as monopolies in electricity transmission—are being challenged. The DOJ’s push here could accelerate the transition to renewable energy by reducing barriers for startups.

Traditional energy firms may face headwinds if deregulation opens the door to renewables and disruptors.

Risks and Opportunities for Investors

The DOJ’s approach carries both risks and opportunities. Companies in regulated sectors that rely on monopolistic protections—such as utilities or healthcare providers—could see their profit margins pressured. Conversely, firms positioned to capitalize on deregulation, such as homebuilders or renewable energy startups, may enjoy growth.

Crucially, the DOJ’s adherence to the 2023 Merger Guidelines signals a measured approach. While it avoids abrupt policy shifts, the emphasis on deregulation suggests a long-term push to reduce the regulatory burden on businesses. This could attract investment in sectors primed for competition-driven innovation.

Conclusion: A New Era for Competition-Driven Markets

The DOJ’s antitrust strategy in 2025 represents a paradigm shift. By targeting regulations that prop up monopolies rather than introducing new rules, the administration aims to lower costs and spur innovation. Data underscores the stakes: the 27% rise in healthcare costs during the Biden-Harris era, for example, highlights the urgency of this agenda.

Investors should prioritize companies that can thrive in less regulated environments—those with scalable models, low compliance costs, or disruptive technologies. Conversely, firms reliant on anticompetitive regulations may face prolonged headwinds. The DOJ’s Task Force has set a clear path: industries once shielded by red tape are now fair game. For investors, this is a call to reevaluate portfolios through the lens of deregulation—and prepare for a market reshaped by competition.

These sectors’ inflation trends will be critical indicators of the Task Force’s success—and the ROI for investors betting on its outcomes.