After a failed attempt by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to simplify the cancellation process for subscription services in 2023, members of Congress are now trying to revive the initiative through legislation. The FTC’s proposed “click-to-cancel” rule was intended to ensure that consumers could cancel a subscription using the same method they used to sign up—particularly important for online and app-based services. However, earlier this year, a court struck down the rule before it could take effect, arguing that the FTC had exceeded its regulatory authority and failed to follow required administrative procedures.
Now, Democratic lawmakers are taking a different route, aiming to embed the rule directly into U.S. law. The proposed “Click-to-Cancel Act of 2025” is a short, two-page bill that explicitly aims to codify the FTC’s original rule. It would require that companies allow consumers to cancel subscriptions through the same channel used to sign up—so if a subscription began online, it must be cancelable online as well. The bill also includes provisions for annual renewal notifications, intended to prevent surprise charges for long-term renewals that customers may not have authorized knowingly.
The bill is being sponsored by three Democratic representatives from California, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania, as reported by Ars Technica. Despite its consumer-friendly intent, the legislation faces an uphill battle. The current political landscape in Congress, dominated by a thin Republican majority, is deeply fractured and increasingly hostile to regulatory expansions. Many within the GOP have shown consistent resistance to consumer protection rules that might burden businesses, making it unlikely that the bill will advance meaningfully in this session.
Even if the legislation were to pass, it could face additional hurdles. With federal courts becoming increasingly conservative under appointments made during the Trump administration, legal challenges to the law’s enforcement could surface quickly. Moreover, a lack of cooperation from federal regulatory agencies could stifle implementation. In short, despite public frustration with hard-to-cancel subscriptions and recurring charges, any immediate federal reform remains improbable as political and judicial obstacles mount.
