House Democrats launched an investigation into the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), focusing on actions taken under its current chairman, Brendan Carr, who was appointed by President Donald Trump.
Led by Representative Frank Pallone, the top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, the probe targets what Democrats describe as "sham investigations" initiated by Carr into media outlets such as CBS, NBC, and ABC. These outlets are perceived to be disfavored by Trump and his adviser Elon Musk.
The Democrats' inquiry stems from concerns that Carr is using the FCC to target and intimidate news organizations, potentially infringing on First Amendment rights. They argue that Carr’s aggressive oversight—particularly his investigations into diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices at companies like Disney, ABC, Comcast, and Verizon, as well as his threats to block media mergers over DEI policies—represents a politicization of the FCC, an agency traditionally intended to operate independently.
FCC is closing the door on the Biden admin's weaponization of communications laws, official says https://t.co/mq9iEa45Nf #FoxNews
— Tom Benson (@Tombenson1) March 31, 2025
This move by Democrats follows a series of high-profile FCC actions under Carr’s leadership, including probes into major broadcasters and public entities like NPR and PBS, which Carr has accused of violating regulations. Critics, including some civil liberties groups, contend that these efforts may chill free speech, while Carr maintains he is applying an even-handed approach to enforce FCC rules.
The investigation reflects broader tensions between Democratic lawmakers and the Trump administration’s regulatory appointees, echoing past Democratic efforts to scrutinize the FCC, such as their 2018 plans to investigate net neutrality rollbacks. As of now, this probe is in its early stages, with Democrats seeking to uncover whether Carr’s actions align with the FCC’s mandate or serve political ends.
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