NCL welcomes President Trump’s Executive Order and calls for congressional action on consumer protections in live-event ticketing

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For Immediate Release: March 31, 2025

Contact: Lisa McDonald, VP of Communications 202-207-2829 or lisam@nclnet.org

Washington, DC – The National Consumers League (NCL) is commending President Donald J. Trump for signing an Executive Order aimed at protecting fans from exploitative ticket scalping and implementing common sense reforms in the live entertainment ticketing industry. This decisive action underscores the urgent need for Congress to pass the bipartisan Transparency in Charges for Key Events Ticketing (TICKET) Act (S.281/H.R. 1402).

The Executive Order directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to collaborate with the Attorney General to ensure robust enforcement of competition laws within the live event sector. It also emphasizes the need for rigorous enforcement of the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act, promotes price transparency throughout the ticket-purchasing process—including the secondary market—and mandates action to prevent unfair, deceptive, and anti-competitive practices in secondary ticketing. 

“For too long, consumers have faced exorbitant prices and deceptive practices when purchasing tickets for live events,” said John Breyault, NCL Vice President of Public Policy, Telecommunications, and Fraud. “This Executive Order is a significant step toward ensuring fairness and transparency in the ticketing marketplace. It provides a clear directive to consumer champions in Congress to swiftly enact the TICKET Act.” 

The TICKET Act passed the House of Representatives last year by overwhelming bipartisan margins (388-24) last Congress and has already been approved unanimously by the Senate Commerce Committee in February. It has attracted broad support from consumer advocates, artists, venues, and ticketing platforms. The TICKET Act aims to:

  • Implement all-in pricing, ensuring consumers see the full cost of a ticket upfront, eliminating hidden fees.
  • Prohibit speculative ticket sales, preventing brokers from selling tickets they do not possess.
  • Ban deceptive resale websites that mislead consumers into believing they are purchasing from official sources.
  • Guarantee refunds for events that are canceled or postponed.
  • Strengthen enforcement against the use of bots that allow resellers to manipulate the ticket market.

“President Trump’s Executive Order highlights the critical need for legislative action to protect consumers,” added Breyault. “We urge Congress to seize this opportunity to pass the TICKET Act, ensuring that fans can access live entertainment without falling victim to unfair practices and inflated prices.” 

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About the National Consumers League (NCL) 

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization.  Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad.  For more information, visit nclnet.org.