Once sworn in, the commissioners will restore the USITC to its full six-member complement and substantially reshape the Commission’s membership.

The Senate confirmed:

• Brett Doyle, a Republican from Connecticut, for a term expiring December 16, 2030;
• David Foley, Jr., a Republican from Virginia, for a term expiring June 16, 2032;
• Samuel Negatu, a Democrat from the District of Columbia, for a term expiring June 16, 2029;
• Peter-Anthony Pappas, a Republican from New Jersey, for a term expiring June 16, 2035; and
• Bartholomew Thanhauser, a Democrat from New York, for a term expiring December 16, 2027.

The confirmations followed a June 25 hearing before the Senate Finance Committee and the Committee’s approval of all five nominations on July 14.

A Broad Range of Experience

The confirmed commissioners bring experience spanning intellectual property law, international economic policy, national security, government contracting, and trade negotiations.

Pappas has experience in intellectual property and Section 337 matters, while Thanhauser previously worked on trade policy at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. Foley is an attorney and U.S. Air Force Reserve officer, and Doyle and Negatu have held roles involving public policy and international economic matters.

Together, their backgrounds reflect several areas that regularly intersect with the Commission’s work, including intellectual property enforcement, trade policy, technology, and U.S. industrial competitiveness.

Why the Confirmations Matter

The confirmation of five commissioners at once represents a substantial change in the Commission’s membership. The USITC is authorized to have six commissioners, with no more than three belonging to the same political party.

For practitioners, the significance of the transition will become clearer through the commissioners’ early votes and written views. Parties will be watching how the newly composed Commission approaches recurring issues in material injury analyses, including causation, cumulation, conditions of competition, and the treatment of post-petition data. In Section 337 matters, attention will also focus on the Commission’s approach to domestic industry requirements, remedies, and public-interest considerations.

The commissioners’ separate and dissenting views may be particularly useful in identifying areas of consensus and differences in analytical approach.