Conservative organizations aligned with former President Donald Trump have filed coordinated petitions to deny ABC's broadcast license renewals, escalating a regulatory fight initiated by the Federal Communications Commission in April.
The FCC, led by Trump appointee Brendan Carr, ordered ABC to renew its eight owned-and-operated television station licenses ahead of schedule, citing concerns about the network's diversity, equity and inclusion programs. The accelerated timeline came after late-night host Jimmy Kimmel made jokes about Melania Trump, prompting calls from the White House for retaliation.
Since the FCC's order, groups including the Center for American Rights, Media Research Center, Article III Project and America First Legal have submitted petitions against ABC's renewal applications. These organizations have documented ties to Trump's political circle. America First Legal was co-founded by Stephen Miller, a longtime Trump aide.
The petitions allege partisan bias in ABC's news coverage, insufficient diversity in hiring, and collusion with the Chinese Communist Party. The Center for American Rights cited Kimmel's monologues and ABC's 2024 presidential debate moderation as evidence of bias. The Media Research Center claimed ABC used public spectrum to "suppress news coverage" and engage in "electioneering."
The Article III Project, led by Trump-aligned activist Mike Davis, focused on hiring practices as evidence of discriminatory conduct.
Under the Communications Act, petitions to deny are part of an open process intended to allow public participation in licensing decisions. However, legal experts have questioned whether the coordinated effort represents weaponization of regulatory machinery.
Carr has said the accelerated renewal timeline stems from an agency investigation into ABC's DEI efforts. When asked about the timeline for resolution, Carr told The Guardian there was "no clear timeline" and that "if it's short, great. If it's long, great."
The FCC has set a July 29 deadline for opposition filings and August 5 for replies. The matter will likely proceed to an administrative law judge, potentially involving months or years of litigation.
Regardless of the outcome, the investigation itself will require ABC to submit to discovery, depositions and litigation over internal deliberations about hiring, diversity initiatives and editorial judgment.
