President Donald Trump’s pledge to install Olivia Trusty as the next Republican Commissioner at the Federal Communications Commission is moving forward, with the Senate Commerce Committee reviewing her nomination Wednesday.
Trusty has extensive experience in telecommunications policy, having served as Policy Director for both the Senate Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet, and the Subcommittee on Manufacturing, Trade, and Consumer Protection under Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS). Her earlier roles include positions with the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Representative Bob Latta (R-OH), and private-sector roles at Verizon and Qwest. She holds a Master’s in American Government from Georgetown University and a Bachelor’s in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
If confirmed, Trusty will fill the FCC seat vacated by former Chair Jessica Rosenworcel.
A Republican majority at the FCC is already on the horizon. Democratic Commissioner Geoffrey Starks is expected to step down before summer, a shift that will give current FCC Chairman Brendan Carr the votes needed to pursue long-sought Republican priorities—such as revisiting broadcast ownership rules and scrutinizing licensees with diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
Chairman Carr praised Trusty’s qualifications, stating, “Her extensive knowledge, public sector experience, and keen intellect will serve her well at the agency. I look forward to welcoming her to the FCC as a colleague and to working together to deliver great results for the American people.”
Trusty’s appointment would mark a significant step in reshaping the commission’s regulatory direction under a second Trump administration.