I felt like this needed some more visibility, article here https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/ftc-ban-noncompete-agreements-employers-lobbying-rcna77169
Basically this is a continuance in big business trying to limit job opportunities for ex-employees, employees they've fired, etc. under the contrivance that you might 'proliferate trade secrets'.
This has been used as a tool to make sure you essentially have to change industries of work entirely if you happen to lose out to one of the bigger companies.
But honestly, I don't think anyone has the right to tell you who you can and cannot work for if you no longer have a formal contract with them as an employee.