Senators Demand FCC Rescind Punitive Early License Renewal Order Targeting Disney After Trump’s Threats

In a sharp rebuke to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), a bipartisan group of Senators including Chris Van Hollen, Edward Markey, Chuck Schumer, Maria Cantwell, and Ben Ray Luján have demanded the agency immediately rescind its extraordinary order requiring Disney to file early license renewals for its eight ABC broadcast stations. This order came just one day after President Donald Trump publicly called for ABC to fire late-night host Jimmy Kimmel—speech protected under the First Amendment.

The Senators’ letter, signed also by John Hickenlooper, Mazie Hirono, Jacky Rosen, Bernie Sanders, Brian Schatz, Adam Schiff, and Elizabeth Warren, accuses FCC Chairman Brendan Carr of abusing his power and turning the FCC into “President Trump’s roving censor.” The letter emphasizes that the FCC’s licensing authority is being weaponized to punish broadcasters for editorial decisions that displease the President, effectively threatening constitutionally protected speech with license revocation.

Before becoming FCC Chairman, Carr had acknowledged the vital role of political satire in holding power accountable, stating that such speech “circumvents traditional gatekeepers” and is often targeted for censorship. Yet under his leadership, the FCC has now taken the unprecedented step of invoking early license renewal procedures—an action not used in over fifty years and never before to punish protected speech.

The timing of the order, issued just one day after Trump’s demand and reportedly surprising FCC career staff, makes clear the retaliatory intent. The Senators demand a full explanation by May 21, 2026, including what legal reviews were conducted, whether less aggressive enforcement options were considered, and whether the White House coordinated with the FCC on this order.

This move fits into a broader pattern of the Trump administration weaponizing regulatory agencies to silence dissent and intimidate media outlets. The Senators’ letter calls out this abuse of power and insists the FCC must uphold its duty to protect free speech rather than serve as a tool of presidential retribution.

The full letter is publicly available and lays bare the dangers of allowing regulatory bodies to be converted into instruments of censorship targeting political satire and critical voices. The question now is whether the FCC will stand for constitutional principles or continue down the path of authoritarian overreach.