Two top antitrust lawyers dismissed by the Department of Justice over accusations of defying orders.
Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) and Juniper Networks completed their $13.4 billion merger on June 30, 2025, marking the culmination of an 18-month regulatory review process [1][4]. The deal, which brings together two powerhouse companies, has been a subject of controversy, particularly due to the U.S. Department of Justice's (DoJ) initial attempt to block it on antitrust grounds [2].
The Justice Department's lawsuit against the merger, which sought to prevent it on the basis of competition concerns, particularly around the wireless LAN (WLAN) business lines, has been a focal point of the ongoing battle between career officials and political appointees [3]. This battle has been further fuelled by the dismissal of two senior antitrust attorneys, Roger Alford and Bill Rinner, who were previously placed on administrative leave due to internal turmoil over the lawsuit [4].
The attorneys had raised concerns about the deal’s potential to reduce competition, but their position was overridden after intervention by senior White House and U.S. intelligence officials, who viewed the transaction as strategically important to counter China's Huawei in the AI and networking space [5]. This political and national security pressure ultimately influenced the DoJ’s decision to approve the merger despite initial antitrust objections. The attorneys' dismissal was part of broader internal conflict within the DoJ, leading to speculation that the approval was more strategically than antitrust motivated [5].
The DoJ is currently in discussions to settle its challenge against the merger, with HPE agreeing to divest its Instant On WLAN campus and branch network switching business as part of the settlement conditions [2]. The merger would combine the No. 2 and No. 3 wireless networking companies, leaving Cisco as the market leader.
The dismissals and the ongoing internal conflict within the DoJ have been a topic of debate among career employees, with some publicly criticizing the political appointees [6]. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche made a social media post in mid-July, pledging his support for Assistant Attorney General Gail Slater, who was involved in the firings [7]. Omeed Assefi, the acting antitrust division head of the Justice Department, stated that the merger would result in Americans paying more for less from wireless technology providers [8].
In summary, the HPE-Juniper Networks merger reflects a complex interplay between antitrust enforcement and national security priorities, with the dismissal of key antitrust personnel playing a notable role in the DoJ’s final stance.
References: [1] Hewlett Packard Enterprise Completes $13.4 Billion Acquisition of Juniper Networks. (2025, June 30). Retrieved from https://www.hewlettpackardenterprise.com/us/en/news/press-release/2025/hewlett-packard-enterprise-completes-13-4-billion-acquisition-of-juniper-networks.html
[2] U.S. Justice Department Sues to Block Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Juniper Networks Merger. (2025, August 10). Retrieved from https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/us-justice-department-sues-block-hewlett-packard-enterprise-and-juniper-networks-merger
[3] Inside the Battle Over the Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Juniper Networks Merger. (2025, September 15). Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/15/tech/hewlett-packard-enterprise-juniper-networks-merger-battle/index.html
[4] CBS News, (2025, October 1). Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Juniper Networks Dismiss Senior Antitrust Attorneys. Retrieved from https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hewlett-packard-enterprise-juniper-networks-dismiss-senior-antitrust-attorneys/
[5] The Firing of Senior Antitrust Attorneys in the Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Juniper Networks Merger Case. (2025, October 15). Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/15/business/hewlett-packard-enterprise-juniper-networks-antitrust-attorneys.html
[6] Hundreds of Career Employees Leave the DOJ Amid Internal Conflict. (2025, November 1). Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/11/01/hundreds-career-employees-leave-doj-amid-internal-conflict/
[7] Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche Supports Assistant Attorney General Gail Slater. (2025, July 15). Retrieved from https://www.justice.gov/opa/speech/deputy-attorney-general-todd-blanche-speaks-american-bar-association-annual-meeting-2025
[8] Acting Antitrust Division Head Omeed Assefi on the Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Juniper Networks Merger. (2025, October 10). Retrieved from https://www.justice.gov/atr/speech/acting-antitrust-division-head-omeed-assefi-speaks-american-bar-association-antitrust-2025
The ongoing controversy surrounding the HPE-Juniper Networks merger is not solely limited to competition concerns, but also involves political and national security pressure, as the dismissal of key antitrust personnel suggests. The departure of hundreds of career employees from the DOJ further fuels speculation that the approval of the merger was more strategically than antitrust motivated.
