The chairman of the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has publicly questioned the agency's independence, a move that has ignited significant alarm among Democratic lawmakers and free speech advocates. Brendan Carr told a Senate oversight hearing that the FCC is "not an independent agency, formally speaking," just as the descriptor was removed from the regulator's official online mission statement.
Mission Statement Altered During Hearing
According to a report by Axios, the FCC's website described itself as "an independent US government agency overseen by Congress" shortly before Carr's testimony on Wednesday. However, during the hearing before the Senate commerce, science, and transportation committee, the word "independent" was scrubbed from the site. This swift change, coupled with Carr's remarks, has intensified concerns about efforts by Donald Trump and his allies to exert greater control over federal agencies since his return to the White House in January.
Confrontation Over Threats to Broadcasters
Democratic senators directly challenged Carr over his past comments regarding television networks, particularly his role in a controversy involving ABC and late-night host Jimmy Kimmel. In September, Carr was accused of threatening networks that aired content critical of Trump, specifically after Kimmel's monologue following the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Kimmel had criticised the "Maga gang" for its response to the incident, remarks made before charging documents suggested the shooter held left-leaning views. Carr later told a conservative podcaster, "We can do this the easy way or the hard way," suggesting broadcasters could "take action" on Kimmel or face more FCC scrutiny.
During Wednesday's hearing, 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 invoking the long-standing but vague "public interest standard" for broadcast licence holders.
Accusations of Censorship and Partisanship
The hearing grew more heated as other Democrats weighed in. Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts accused the FCC of "government censorship, plain and simple" over its investigation of 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 Senator Tammy Baldwin delivered a sharp rebuke, labelling Carr "a parrot for president Trump" who had actively "diminished the independence of the FCC." The exchanges highlight a deepening partisan rift at the agency, with critics warning that its traditional regulatory neutrality is being eroded in favour of political pressure from the White House.
The developments mark a significant shift in the FCC's self-perception and operational stance, raising profound questions about the future of broadcast regulation and the safeguarding of editorial independence under the current administration.
