The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has approved T-Mobile’s $4.4 billion acquisition of UScellular’s wireless operations, which include its customers, retail locations, and 30% of its spectrum assets.
This decision, announced Thursday, marks another significant corporate merger supported under President Donald Trump’s administration. The DOJ concluded its antitrust investigation without seeking to block the deal, citing a lack of evidence that the acquisition would harm competition.
T-Mobile Ends DEI Programs Amid Political Pressure and Regulatory Strategy Shifts
The DOJ’s announcement followed closely on the heels of T-Mobile’s decision to dismantle its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. This move appears to align with political pressure from the Trump administration and was likely aimed at smoothing regulatory paths for this and other deals.
T-Mobile is also seeking Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approval for a joint venture with KKR to acquire internet provider Metronet, further underscoring the company’s shift in strategy amid political currents.
DOJ Clears T-Mobile’s $4.4B UScellular Deal as Company Drops DEI Amid Spectrum Consolidation FearsGail Slater, who leads the DOJ’s antitrust division, defended the department’s decision by stating that UScellular was no longer able to invest competitively in its infrastructure. Without the merger, she said, the quality of UScellular’s network would likely continue to degrade.
Slater emphasized that the investigation found no significant harm to competition, though she did express concern about the growing dominance of the top three mobile carriers — Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile — who now control over 80% of the country’s mobile spectrum.
Mounting Fears as Big Three Tighten Grip on U.S. Wireless Spectrum Market
Despite approving the deal, Slater raised red flags about the broader implications of increased spectrum consolidation. She noted that the transaction, along with two other deals under review, would add to what she termed an “oligopoly” in the wireless market.
This raises concerns about long-term competitive risks, especially as more spectrum is concentrated in the hands of the dominant three carriers, potentially stifling innovation and customer choice down the line.
This merger reflects a broader trend under the Trump administration, which has adopted a more lenient approach to antitrust enforcement compared to the previous Biden administration. In June alone, the DOJ and the Federal Trade Commission cleared three major deals worth a combined $63 billion.
Among them was a previously contested $14 billion acquisition by Hewlett Packard Enterprise. The DOJ’s willingness to settle such cases highlights a notable shift in enforcement philosophy, favoring expedited approvals and corporate settlements over lengthy litigation.
