DOJ Ousts Antitrust Officials in HPE-Juniper Dispute

The U.S. Department of Justice has fired two senior antitrust officials, Roger Alford and Bill Rinner, for insubordination related to Hewlett Packard Enterprise's $14 billion acquisition of Juniper Networks. The firings reflect internal power struggles within the DOJ's antitrust division, led by Assistant Attorney General Gail Slater. Reports indicate that the settlement for the HPE-Juniper deal was signed by DOJ leadership, rather than staff attorneys, after intervention from Attorney General Pam Bondi's chief of staff, Chad Mizelle, who overruled antitrust division objections. Senate Democrats have called for judicial scrutiny of the settlement, citing concerns about improper political influence. Broader tensions continue within the DOJ regarding its approach to antitrust enforcement, especially in major tech cases. The dismissals have raised concerns about the independence and integrity of DOJ antitrust practices.