Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick disbands PPAC & TPAC

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has decided to end all current appointments to both the Patent Public Advisory Committee (PPAC) and Trademark Public Advisory Committee (TPAC), effective immediately.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick

IPWatchdog has learned that Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has decided to end all current appointments to both the Patent Public Advisory Committee (PPAC) and Trademark Public Advisory Committee (TPAC), effective immediately. Secretary Lutnick will be expected to appoint members to both public committees (PACs) and to move forward with the public meetings for both of the committees as originally planned in May 2025. Trump’s second term as President has begun with a focus on bringing into government those who share the same views and are willing to work together in a team that shares a similar vision for the future. Trump’s second term as President has begun with a focus on bringing into government those with views aligned with the President, and those who are willing to work as a part of a team having a similar vision for the future.

Public Committees Advising USPTO Director Will See New Membership

Both the PPAC and TPAC were established in 1999 when Congress passed the American Inventors Protection Act, with appointments and other governing provisions codified at 35 U.S.C. Section 5 provides that each public advisory committee will have nine members who “serve at the pleasure of the Secretary of Commerce.” This could mean that Secretary Lutnick will appoint new PPAC and TPAC members to one-year or two-year terms in order to maintain staggered terms. Both PACs are required to review the policies, goals and performance of the USPTO, as well as the budget and user fees. PPAC reviews the USPTO trademark operations, while TPAC reviews the USPTO patent operations. Along with advising the USPTO Director on these matters, both PACs prepare annual reports on their respective side of USPTO operations to the Secretary of Commerce, the President, and the Committees on the Judiciary in either house of Congress.

Section 5 also prescribes several qualifications that prospective members of either PAC must possess as a basis for their appointment to those committees. Members must be U.S. Citizens with substantial experience and accomplishments in finance, management and labor relations. Science, technology, and office automation are also required. Both PACs must include members who represent entities seeking patent or trademark rights. This includes representation from both large and small entities. In particular, the PPAC is required to have at least 25% of its membership representing small entity patent applicants, at least one of those members being an independent inventor.

USPTO Executive Turnover and Reassignment

Secretary Lutnick’s decision to rework the composition of both PACs follow some executive staff turnover and reassignment at the USPTO in the first few months of the second Trump Administration. Coke Stewart has been hired as Deputy director and is currently acting as Director while we wait for confirmation of Director nominee John Squires. IPWatchdog reported in early February that Vaishali udupa, the USPTO Commissioner of Patents at the time, had resigned with immediate effect to take advantage the deferred resigning program offered by the Trump Administration to federal employees. Will Covey is now the Acting Deputy director. He was previously the Director of Enrollment and Discipline. Janet Gongola, former Vice-Chief PTAB Judge, is now the Acting Director of Communications. Farheena Rasheed, a former solicitor, is now an acting PTAB vice chief judge. Valencia Martin Wallace has been appointed as Acting Commissioner of Patents, and Dan Vavonese as Acting Commissioner of Trademarks. Chris Shipp is back at the USPTO in his role as Chief of Staff. Frederick Steckler has ceased to perform his duties as the USPTO Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) in the last few weeks. IPWatchdog does not know the circumstances of Steckler’s departure at this time. The USPTO website currently states that Anne Mendez is the Acting CAO. She has been the Deputy CAO of the USPTO since 2020.

Gene Quinn is an expert on patent law, innovation policy and patent law. Mr. Quinn was twice named as one of the 50 most influential people

Steve Brachmann

Steve Brachmann graduated from the University at Buffalo School of Law in May 2022, earning his Juris Doctor. He served as the president of the Intellectual