Senate Democrats are pressing Brendan Carr, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chair aligned with President Donald Trump, to reverse an order that compels ABC to seek early renewal of its television station licenses. In a letter sent Thursday, the lawmakers condemned the move as an extraordinary abuse of power and a violation of the First Amendment.
Background of the Dispute
The FCC’s order, issued last week, targets eight ABC-owned stations whose licenses were not set to expire until 2028 at the earliest and 2031 at the latest. The commission now demands that renewal applications be filed by the end of May. Carr has linked the early renewal requirement to an ongoing investigation into diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices at Disney, ABC’s parent company. However, the announcement came just a day after President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump called for ABC to fire late-night host Jimmy Kimmel over a poorly timed joke, raising concerns about political motivation.
Lawmakers’ Response
The letter, spearheaded by Senators Edward J. Markey, Chuck Schumer, Maria Cantwell, and Ben Ray Luján, and signed by eight additional senators, states: “The campaign against Disney and its editorial decision-making, culminating in last week’s early-renewal order, is an egregious abuse of power and a clear violation of the First Amendment.” It adds that while the FCC has authority to ensure broadcasters serve the public interest, it “cannot serve as President Trump’s roving censor, threatening to revoke licenses against broadcasters whose editorial content – including a comedian’s jokes – displeases the President.”
Ongoing Investigations
The FCC has two other open investigations into ABC. One stems from a 2024 complaint about the network’s moderation of a presidential debate, and another examines whether the daytime talk show The View violated equal time rules by hosting Senate candidate James Talarico. The senators’ letter includes a series of questions for Carr, demanding responses by May 21. They ask for details on the timing and process behind the early renewal order, whether FCC lawyers reviewed it, and whether Carr or his staff communicated with the White House before its issuance.
Carr’s Defense
At an FCC meeting last week, Carr denied any external pressure, stating: “This was a decision that we made inside this building based on where we were in the enforcement matter. There was no pressure from the outside. There was no suggestion from the outside. There was no call for agency action from the outside.” The senators also inquired whether the FCC considered less aggressive measures before issuing the order, given its nearly unprecedented nature.
