Trump Targets Disney With Media Shutdown Threat

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced on Thursday, March 27, 2025, that ABC might face the loss of its broadcast license as Disney, its parent company, undergoes an investigation concerning its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. This scrutiny aligns with the Trump administration’s broader initiative to dismantle similar programs across both governmental and private sectors.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, speaking to Fox News on Monday, March 31, stated that Disney’s DEI initiatives might breach federal regulations if they are determined to be discriminatory.
Carr has also issued letters to Comcast and Verizon, indicating investigations into their diversity practices as well.
“If the evidence does in fact play out and shows that they were engaged in race- and gender-based discrimination, that’s a very serious issue at the FCC, that could fundamentally go to their character qualifications to even hold a license,” Carr said. “But we’re going to follow the facts wherever they go.”
Under increasing scrutiny, Disney has revised some of its diversity initiatives. The company recently updated its executive compensation policies, removing diversity and inclusion as a performance metric and replacing it with “talent strategy.” Additionally, Disney has shortened warnings about racial stereotypes that previously appeared before certain classic films.