Brendan Carr, commissioner at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), during a Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee oversight hearing in Washington, DC, US, on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025.
Kent Nishimura | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Disney shot back at the Federal Communications Commission on Thursday as part of an early renewal process for broadcast licenses for eight of the company’s stations.
Disney said in filings it was submitting the applications “under protest in response to an unlawful, arbitrary, and unconstitutional order” from the FCC.
In late April the FCC said it was launching an early review of the Disney-owned ABC stations years ahead of schedule following concerns around the company’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. The licenses of the eight stations were originally up for renewal between 2028 and 2031.
Last year the FCC, the federal entity that regulates the media and telecommunications industry, began an investigation into the DEI efforts of Disney and other media companies.
The agency said it began investigating Disney last March for possible violations of the Communications Act of 1934 and the FCC’s rules regarding its prohibition on unlawful discrimination.
In April, the FCC said it had determined further action was needed. Disney had until Thursday to file the renewals.
The FCC’s early review came shortly after ABC faced renewed political backlash from President Donald Trump following comments made by comedian Jimmy Kimmel during his late night TV show that airs on the broadcast network.
The timing raised eyebrows from critics of the Trump administration — as well as from a sitting FCC commissioner — who said the scrutiny was politically motivated.
In Thursday’s filing, Disney said it objected to the process and added that the FCC hadn’t called for an early renewal in more than five decades.
“The order has no legitimate purpose,” Disney said in the filing. “There is no information that the application will reveal that the Commission could not obtain through other means. The order is inconsistent with a legitimate exercise of investigative authority and is plainly incompatible with the First Amendment.”
In a statement Thursday, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr defended the agency’s actions and said they stemmed from the agency’s probe into Disney’s DEI practices that started last year. He said Disney “only filed these applications to renew their ABC broadcast licenses after the FCC informed the company that their responses to the agency’s investigation had been disingenuous, deficient, and improper.”
He added the FCC will “follow the facts and law wherever they may lead.”
