During a House Appropriations Subcommittee hearing this week, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr faced tough questions from lawmakers over his agency’s deregulatory efforts, spending decisions, and scrutiny of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives. The session revealed deep political divides over the Commission’s direction under Carr’s leadership.
Republican members of the Subcommittee praised Carr’s focus on reducing regulations and government spending. Subcommittee Chairman Dave Joyce of Ohio highlighted a $567 million reduction in contract ceiling value and applauded Carr for maintaining the FCC’s $390.2 million budget, fully funded through regulatory fees. Joyce also noted the FCC’s return of surplus funds to the U.S. Treasury, which he said demonstrates fiscal responsibility.
Democrats, however, expressed serious concerns. Ranking Member Steny Hoyer of Maryland accused the FCC of abandoning its traditional neutrality, suggesting it had become a partisan player in cultural and political disputes. Hoyer cited recent actions involving public broadcasters like NPR and PBS and questioned the Commission’s investigation into corporate DEI efforts, calling it a misuse of agency resources and a sign of politicization.
“What was once an independent, impartial agency… has become, in my view, to some degree ‘the speech police,’ another cudgel in the President’s culture war,” Hoyer said.
Representative Sanford Bishop of Georgia also raised questions about priorities, asking whether the focus on DEI investigations detracted from key FCC responsibilities such as rural broadband deployment and spectrum management. Carr declined to provide specific figures on resource allocation during the hearing but committed to submitting that information later. He insisted that no essential agency functions had been neglected.
Carr defended his agency’s course, pointing to the success of the “Delete, Delete, Delete” initiative, which aims to repeal outdated and unnecessary rules. He reported that staffing at the FCC had been reduced from 1,461 employees at the start of fiscal year 2025 to 1,383 by late April, resulting in $6.7 million in contract savings for the remainder of the year.
In closing, Carr called on Congress to restore the FCC’s authority to auction spectrum licenses, a power that lapsed in 2023. He reiterated his commitment to modernizing the agency, cutting unnecessary regulation, and maintaining a lean, efficient operation in line with current technological and economic realities.