By the power granted to me as President under the Constitution and laws of the United States, I hereby declare:
Section 1. Purpose. (a) The United States boasts a live concert and entertainment industry that is the envy of nations worldwide. However, this vibrant sector has been marred by unscrupulous intermediaries who exploit the gap between artists and their audiences, imposing exorbitant fees while offering little in return. Ticket scalpers, armed with bots and other unfair tactics, hoard tickets at face value only to resell them at staggering markups—some reports indicate fans have paid up to 70 times the original price. In these situations, artists see none of the profits, which are funneled directly into the pockets of scalpers and ticketing agencies.
(b) My Administration is dedicated to ensuring that the arts and entertainment remain accessible to all Americans. The rent-seeking behaviors plaguing the ticketing industry stand in stark opposition to this mission, harming consumers and taking advantage of market inefficiencies that cannot be allowed to persist.
Sec. 2. Implementation. My Administration will employ every lawful authority to combat the issues highlighted in Section 1 of this order. Therefore, I instruct that:
(a) the Attorney General and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ensure that competition laws are vigorously enforced within the concert and entertainment sector, particularly where venues, ticketing agents, or their combinations operate to the detriment of artists and fans;
(b) the FTC diligently enforce the Better Online Ticket Sales Act, 15 U.S.C. 45c, and collaborate with State Attorneys General or other State consumer protection officials on enforcement, providing such officials with information or evidence obtained by the FTC as permitted by law;
(c) the FTC take necessary actions, including proposing regulations, to ensure price transparency throughout the ticket-purchase process, including in the secondary ticketing market;
(d) the FTC assess and, if appropriate, initiate enforcement actions against unfair, deceptive, and anti-competitive practices in the secondary ticketing arena; and
(e) the Secretary of the Treasury and the Attorney General make certain that ticket scalpers are fully compliant with the Internal Revenue Code and other applicable legislation.
Sec. 3. Report. Within 180 days of this order, the Secretary of the Treasury, Attorney General, and Chairman of the FTC shall jointly provide a report to the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget detailing the actions taken to implement this order. This report shall also outline any recommendations for regulations or legislation necessary to safeguard consumers in the live concert and entertainment sector.
Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be interpreted to diminish or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to any executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget concerning budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented in accordance with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, nor does it, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other individual.
DONALD J. TRUMP
THE WHITE HOUSE,
March 31, 2025.
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