After 26,000 public comments, FTC to vote on rule banning noncompete agreements

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission building in Washington, D.C. (Paul J. Richards/AFP via Getty Images)

After receiving more than 26,000 public comments, the five members of the Federal Trade Commission are set to vote Tuesday on whether to issue a final rule banning noncompetes, declaring them an unfair method of competition.

In a statement last week, the FTC said the final rule under consideration "would generally prevent most employers from using noncompete clauses." It's not yet clear how the final rule differs from the version first proposed in January 2023.