Turning independent regulators into weapons for political retaliation
Charged with regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is the primary US authority for communications law, regulation, and technological innovation. The FCC’s stated mission is to make available "without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, or sex, a rapid, efficient, Nation-wide, and world-wide wire and radio communication service with adequate facilities at reasonable charges."
ACTION 99 | Appointments of loyalists to the FCC with an interest in retaliatory actions
In November 2024, Trump tapped former FCC General Counsel and the author of Project 2025’s FCC section, Brendan Carr, to lead the Commission. At that time, Carr declared his intentions for the FCC, stating on X, “we must dismantle the censorship cartel and restore the free speech rights for everyday Americans.”
April 2025 brought the arrival of Gavin Wax as the new chief of staff to Trump-nominated FCC Commissioner Nathan Simington. Former day trader and president of the New York Young Republican Club, Wax penned a 2018 column entitled, "We are all Proud Boys now” and stated in 2023 that Trump’s return to office would be a time for retribution. (Last updated 4/21/25)
ACTION 100 | Targeted investigations of media companies
In January 2025, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr ordered an investigation of National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), alleging that their underwriting announcements crossed the line into prohibited commercial advertisements. He shared his letter to the outlets with members of Congress to inform their decisions about the elimination of taxpayer subsidies for NPR and PBS programming.
The same month, Carr reinstated complaints filed by a Trump-affiliated group against CBS and NBC for their treatment of the presidential campaign, but did not revive a complaint focused on Fox.
In February 2025, shortly after Trump signed an executive order focused on DEI, Carr wrote a letter to the CEO of the Comcast Corporation stating there was “substantial evidence that your companies are still engaging in the promotion of DEI” and noting the “investigation into Comcast and its NBCUniversal operations will aid the Commission’s broader efforts to root out invidious forms of DEI discrimination across all of the sectors the FCC regulates.”
In March 2025, the FCC opened a similar investigation into ABC and Disney. Carr noted in a Fox interview that same month that Disney’s broadcaster’s license could be at risk. Notably, these and similar actions have been taken without a vote by the four other members of the Commission. Former FCC Chairman, Tom Wheeler, describes the Commission’s current approach as promising deregulation but delivering micromanagement, regulating by coercive investigation and abolishing open opportunity. (Last updated 4/21/25)