FCC Chair Carr Faces Backlash Over Media Probes Targeting Trump Critics
Three former commission chairs condemn Brendan Carr's use of licensing power against broadcasters as unconstitutional pressure.
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr has deployed the agency's licensing authority to investigate or threaten multiple media organizations whose coverage has drawn criticism from President Donald Trump, prompting accusations that he is weaponizing federal regulation against the press.
Investigations Target Major Broadcasters
Carr launched a probe into the BBC, NPR, and PBS over a BBC documentary that allegedly used a misleading edit of a Trump speech. The FCC also ordered an early review of ABC's station licenses following jokes made by Jimmy Kimmel and the network's decision not to air a primetime Trump address.
In March, Carr threatened to revoke the broadcast licenses of local stations over their coverage of the Iran war, acting after Trump criticized the reporting. Local broadcast licenses are the primary mechanism through which national networks reach audiences, making the threat a potent lever for pressure.
Former Chairs Rebuke 'Politically Motivated' Probes
Three former FCC chairmen—Tom Wheeler, Reed Hundt, and Alfred Sikes—issued a joint statement condemning Carr's actions as politically motivated retaliation.
"The First Amendment is foundational," Sikes said. "It should be foundational not just in the Constitution, but in the way the FCC acts."
Carr dismissed the criticism, telling reporters: "I feel bad for the three of them... I [have to] imagine it's hard when the curtain is closing on your career and yet you're still yearning for one more moment in the limelight."
A Shift in FCC Enforcement
Carr was appointed by Trump, who described him as a "warrior for Free Speech." But critics argue his tenure has marked a departure from the FCC's traditional role as an impartial regulator. By threatening the licenses of individual broadcast stations, Carr is creating a mechanism for government retaliation against the press, free speech advocates warn.
The approach raises constitutional concerns because broadcasters must maintain FCC licenses to operate legally. While the commission has long held authority over licensing, using that power in response to specific coverage or commentary crosses into territory that press freedom advocates say undermines the First Amendment's protection against government interference.
The practical effect, critics argue, is systemic self-censorship: newsrooms may avoid certain stories or angles knowing that unfavorable coverage could trigger regulatory scrutiny that threatens their ability to broadcast.