E&C Democrats Launch Investigation into FCC Chairman Carr’s Repeated Attacks on the First Amendment

Washington, D.C. – Energy and Commerce Committee Democrats launched an investigation today into Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr’s attacks on the First Amendment and his weaponization of the independent agency. Committee Democrats blasted Carr for illegally targeting broadcast networks and media companies perceived to be unfavorably covering the Trump Administration—wasting critical agency resources on bogus investigations in the process. The lawmakers further questioned Carr’s commitment to his agency’s independence, given his frequent trips with the President to Mar-a-Lago and his targeting of entities that the President has criticized or sued in his personal capacity.

Today’s letter to Carr was sent from full Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Communications and Technology Subcommittee Ranking Member Doris Matsui (D-CA), and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Ranking Member Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY).

“We write to express deep concern over your actions to target and intimidate news organizations and broadcasters in violation of the First Amendment. These troubling actions assault the Constitutionally protected freedom of the press and violate the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) statutory prohibition against engaging in censorship,” the three Committee leaders wrote to Chairman Carr. “Moreover, directing FCC staff to devote time and resources to bogus investigations constitutes a violation of the law, gross mismanagement, extreme waste of funds, and an abuse of authority. Therefore, we are also sharing a copy of this letter with the FCC’s Office of Inspector General and are recommending that it open an investigation.” 

Pallone, Matsui, and Clarke called Carr out for undermining the agency’s independence by using its platform to harass and intimidate journalists and news outlets. Under Carr’s leadership, the FCC has harassed CBS for routine editing practices, reinstated lawfully denied complaints against ABC and NBC, launched a bogus investigation into KCBS-AM in San Jose simply for reporting publicly available information, and directed the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau to launch investigations into NPR and PBS based on false allegations.

“Since assuming the role of Chairman on January 20, 2025, you have weaponized the agency against news outlets by not only questioning the speech and expressive conduct of targeted entities but also by abusing your power to formally accuse these speakers of wrongdoing,” Pallone, Matsui, and Clarke continued in their letter. “These actions are in flagrant disregard of the statutory jurisdiction of the Commission, lack any evidence of actual violations, and are conducted with apparent willful ignorance of FCC practice and legal precedent.”

The FCC’s recent actions have drawn criticism from across the political spectrum—including a bipartisan group of former FCC Chairs, who condemned Chairman Carr’s overreach for threatening fundamental constitutional rights and the agency’s independence.

The three Committee leaders demanded information about the FCC’s actions by April 14, including:

• All documents related to its investigations of media entities, including letters of inquiry, subpoenas, and similar official requests for information;
• All communications between Carr and current White House officials and between Carr and other Trump Administration officials that relate to investigations of these or other media entities;
• All communications between Carr and third parties related to investigations of these or other media entities;
• An accounting of the staff time Carr has directed toward the investigations identified in the letter and an estimate of the cost associated with that time; and
• All records related to travel with the President on government aircraft and travel to the President’s personal residence in Florida for meetings with the President or other White House officials.  

Full text of the letter is available HERE.

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