Disney's ABC network has filed a lawsuit against the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), alleging that the Trump administration has engaged in a "retaliatory campaign" aimed at silencing its programming. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Washington, D.C., seeks a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to halt the FCC's review of eight of Disney's broadcast licenses, including those for ABC channels in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.
ABC contends that the administration's actions are motivated by a disapproval of the network's content and its hosts' commentary, particularly on shows like "The View," whose hosts have frequently criticized the Trump administration. The lawsuit states, "Acting through the Federal Communications Commission, the Administration has waged a retaliatory campaign against ABC for a single reason: it disapproves of what ABC broadcasts."
The legal action highlights an escalating dispute over broadcast licenses. In March 2025, FCC Chair Brendan Carr initiated a probe into whether Disney was continuing to implement Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies, which the Trump administration had sought to curtail through executive orders. Tensions intensified in April when Carr moved forward the renewal process for ABC's licenses by a year, citing the network's alleged lack of cooperation with the DEI investigation.
This early review occurred amidst a public feud between late-night host Jimmy Kimmel and then-President Trump. Following a joke by Kimmel about First Lady Melania Trump, the president called for Kimmel's termination. The lawsuit asserts that the timing of the early license review demonstrates the FCC's "true purpose: coercing and retaliating against a network that refuses to bow to the Administration’s demands."
ABC argues that the administration's actions send a clear message to all media companies: to align their reporting with the administration's preferences or face government pressure. The network stated in its complaint, "Plaintiffs come to this Court reluctantly with no alternative means to eliminate these ongoing and immediate threats other than total capitulation to the Administration’s demands."
The lawsuit references past statements by then-President Trump, including a December 2025 post on Truth Social where he suggested revoking broadcast licenses from networks with predominantly negative coverage of him.
FCC Chair Brendan Carr has defended the license renewal review, framing it as a matter of ensuring broadcasters "operate in the public interest" rather than an infringement on free speech. However, ABC's lawsuit notes that the early review has drawn criticism from across the political spectrum, including warnings from conservative Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch and Republican Sen. Ted Cruz about the risks of a politicized FCC.
The legal filing also points to actions by conservative media watchdogs, such as the Media Research Center and the Center for American Rights, which have urged the FCC to deny ABC's license renewals, accusing the network of partisan electioneering and spreading misinformation. The lawsuit mentions Carr's history of acting on petitions from such groups, including a previous complaint against CBS News that led to a settlement with Trump over an edited interview.
