{"id":10534,"date":"2025-09-11T14:04:36","date_gmt":"2025-09-11T19:04:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/?post_type=resources&#038;p=10534"},"modified":"2026-02-04T12:15:35","modified_gmt":"2026-02-04T17:15:35","slug":"federal-noncompete-rule-is-dead-but-ftc-continues-enforcement","status":"publish","type":"resources","link":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/employment-agreements\/federal-noncompete-rule-is-dead-but-ftc-continues-enforcement\/","title":{"rendered":"Federal noncompete rule is dead but FTC continues enforcement"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-primary-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-b5fc8583 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:25px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-7fc3d43a wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:70%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-8e1436f2 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0\">\n<p class=\"\">by <strong>Robert S. Teachout<\/strong>, <strong>SHRM-SCP<\/strong>, Brightmine Legal Editor<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has officially <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ftc.gov\/news-events\/news\/press-releases\/2025\/09\/federal-trade-commission-files-accede-vacatur-non-compete-clause-rule\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">dropped its appeal <\/a>of a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/texas-employment-law\/\">Texas<\/a> district court&#8217;s nationwide injunction halting a federal rule that would have banned nearly all noncompete agreements. But the FTC also signaled its intention to aggressively investigate and penalize employers that abuse such agreements and to gather information that may be used for further enforcement actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">The FTC issued its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ftc.gov\/news-events\/news\/press-releases\/2024\/04\/ftc-announces-rule-banning-noncompetes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">final non-compete rule<\/a> banning noncompetes nationwide in April 2024, saying that noncompetes &#8220;keep wages low, suppress new ideas and rob the American economy of dynamism.&#8221; The final rule was quickly challenged in court, and a district court in Texas blocked the FTC from enforcing the rule in August 2024, holding that the FTC lacked the statutory authority to issue it. The FTC appealed the ruling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Following the appointment of Andrew Ferguson as FTC Chair, the agency requested a stay of the appeal while determining whether to continue to defend the rule. On September 5, 2025, the Commission voted 3-1 to dismiss the appeal. In announcing the decision, however, Ferguson reiterated the FTC&#8217;s intention to pursue case-by-case enforcement against &#8220;bad actors&#8221; who abuse unfair noncompete agreements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">As a case in point, the FTC <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ftc.gov\/news-events\/news\/press-releases\/2025\/09\/ftc-takes-action-protect-workers-noncompete-agreements\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">announced a consent order<\/a> against Gateway Services, the nation&#8217;s largest pet-cremation business, to stop enforcing noncompete agreements that restrict nearly 1,800 workers from working in the pet-cremation service industry anywhere in the U.S. for one year after leaving Gateway. In at least one instance, employees were required to sign the agreements shortly before a facility closed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">In addition, the FTC issued a request for information from employers about the scope, prevalence and effects of employer noncompete agreements, particularly in the healthcare industry. The information will be used to inform possible future enforcement actions. Members of the public have 60 days to submit comments at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.regulations.gov\/document\/FTC-2025-0463-0001\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Regulations.gov<\/a>, no later than November 3, 2025.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column lnrs-hide-block-on-mobile is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-left-color:var(--wp--preset--color--secondary-gray);border-left-width:2px;padding-left:10px;flex-basis:30%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained wp-container-1 is-position-sticky\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-bleach-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-a36fa716 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:14px;padding-top:10px;padding-right:15px;padding-bottom:15px;padding-left:15px\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Navigate HR complexity with confidence<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">With Brightmine, you can build powerful people strategies, implement best practices and set your organization up for a brighter future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Learn how our tools, resources and automation can empower you and your team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"\/us\/solutions\/?intcmp=cta|blog|solutions|learn-more\" style=\"border-radius:25px\">Learn more<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\">\n<p class=\"\"><a href=\"#top\">Go back to the top<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-primary-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fcdab8bb wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:25px;margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-large-font-size\">About the author<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100px\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-thumbnail is-resized is-style-rounded\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/07\/09090849\/Robert-Teachout-150x150.webp\" alt=\"Robert Teachout, SHRM-SCP - Legal Editor at Brightmine\" class=\"wp-image-4983\" style=\"object-fit:cover;width:100px;height:100px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/07\/09090849\/Robert-Teachout-150x150.webp 150w, https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/07\/09090849\/Robert-Teachout.webp 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"\"><strong>Robert S. Teachout, SHRM &#8211; SCP<\/strong><br>Legal Editor, Brightmine<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Robert Teachout has more than 30 years&#8217; experience in legal publishing covering employment laws on the state and federal level. At Brightmine, he covers labor relations, performance appraisals and promotions, succession and workforce planning, HR professional development and employment contracts. He often writes on the intersection of compliance with HR strategy and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Before joining Brightmine, Robert was a senior HR editor at Thompson Information Services, covering FMLA, ADA, EEO issues and federal and state leave laws. Prior to that he was the primary editor of Bloomberg BNA&#8217;s State Labor Laws binders and was the principal writer and editor of the State Wage Assignment and Garnishment Handbook. Robert also served as a union unit leader and shop steward in the Washington-Baltimore Newspaper Guild of the Communications Workers of America. Actively involved in the HR profession, Robert is a member of SHRM at both the national and local levels, and gives back to the profession by serving as the communications vice president on the board of his local chapter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Connect with Robert on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/robertteachout\/\">LinkedIn<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/HRCrossRdsComm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">X<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-primary-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-efae2095 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:25px;margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">You may also be interested in&#8230;<\/h2>\n\n\n<section id=\"resources-search-filter\" class=\"wp-block-brightmine-resources-filter has-text-color has-primary-gray-color has-background has-primary-white-background-color\">\n\n\n<div class=\"ajax-filter\">\n<div class=\"lnrs-resources-search-filter  editor-posts-filtered-topics \">\n\t\t<div class=\"search_terms_bottom\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"bottom_left\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"search_terms_result_count\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"bottom_right\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"loader-container\">\n\t\t<span class=\"loader\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/span>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-filter-widget__container\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__resource\" style=\"background-color: #E9E7E4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/policies-handbooks\/best-practices-for-multistate-handbooks\/\"><div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__resource_image\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/02\/03231106\/Senior-manager-performance-review-1200x627-1.webp);\"><\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__inner_content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"content-top\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__categories\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__category\">Webinars<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"title\" style=\"color: #000000\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/policies-handbooks\/best-practices-for-multistate-handbooks\/\">Best practices for multistate handbooks<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"color: #000000\">Managing employees in multiple states? 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But it still will aggressively investigate and penalize employers that abuse such agreements.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53,"featured_media":10535,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"wp-custom-template-new-resources","categories":[55],"tags":[],"topic":[84,74],"class_list":["post-10534","resources","type-resources","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hr-news","topic-employment-agreements","topic-policies-handbooks"],"_lnrs_read_more":"","yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Federal noncompete rule is dead but FTC continues enforcement<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The FTC dropped its appeal of an injunction halting the noncompete ban. 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