The chairman of the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has publicly declared the powerful media regulator is not an independent agency, sparking immediate fears of a political power grab by allies of former President Donald Trump.
Mission Statement Altered Amid Senate Testimony
Brendan Carr, a vocal Trump supporter and FCC chair, made the contentious statement during a Senate committee oversight hearing on Wednesday. He informed the commerce, science, and transportation committee that the FCC "is not an independent agency, formally speaking."
In a move that appeared to underscore his point, the agency's online mission statement was altered around the time of his testimony. According to a screenshot captured by Axios, the description was changed to remove the word "independent." It had previously defined the FCC as "an independent US government agency overseen by Congress."
Confrontation Over Threats to Broadcasters
The hearing saw Democratic senators directly challenge Carr over past comments perceived as threats against television networks. The controversy stems from right-wing attacks on late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, who made critical remarks about Trump following the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Carr had told a conservative podcaster, "We can do this the easy way or the hard way," suggesting broadcasters could "take action... on Kimmel" or face "additional work for the FCC ahead." Kimmel's show was briefly suspended before being reinstated, prompting further criticism from Trump.
Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota pressed Carr, asking, "Do you think it is appropriate to use your position to threaten companies that broadcast political satire?" Carr defended his stance by citing the long-standing but vague "public interest standard" for broadcast licence holders.
Accusations of Censorship and Parroting Trump
The confrontation intensified as Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts accused the FCC of "government censorship, plain and simple" for investigating a San Francisco broadcaster. Carr countered that broadcasters were, for the first time in years, being held accountable to rules on hoaxes and news distortion.
Wisconsin Democrat Tammy Baldwin delivered a stinging rebuke, labelling Carr "a parrot for president Trump" who had "diminished the independence of the FCC." The exchanges highlight deepening anxieties that Trump and his officials, since returning to office in January, are systematically working to exert greater control over federal agencies designed to operate free from political interference.
This episode raises profound questions about the future of regulatory independence in Washington and the potential for the executive branch to influence media oversight directly.
