FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said he wants an end to discriminatory DEI practices, and he will likely seek to block mergers and acquisitions of media and telecommunications companies if they are not in compliance.
The Federal Communications Commission is prepared to block mergers and acquisitions involving media and telecommunications companies that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies deemed “invidious,” FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced Friday in an interview with Bloomberg News.
Carr’s remarks sent shockwaves through the communications sector, as he directly referenced high-profile deals now under threat, including Paramount Global’s proposed merger with Skydance Media, Verizon Communications Inc.’s acquisition of Frontier Communications Parent Inc., and T-Mobile’s acquisition of US Cellular Corp.’s wireless operations and spectrum assets.
“If there are businesses out there that are still promoting invidious forms of DEI discrimination, I really don’t see a path forward where the FCC could reach the conclusion that approving the transaction is going to be in the public interest,” Carr said.
The chairman’s comments come amid a broader Trump administration crackdown on DEI initiatives across federal agencies and regulated industries. President Trump has directed agencies such as the Department of Justice to create lists of entities to investigate or penalize over DEI practices, which the administration has increasingly cast as discriminatory.
Last week, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued guidance suggesting that popular corporate practices—including mentorship programs, employee resource groups, and targeted networking events—could be illegal if not accessible to all employees, regardless of background.
Carr doubled down on the administration’s stance in a meeting with conservative activist Robby Starbuck, who has led public campaigns pressuring corporate giants like Ford and McDonald’s to abandon DEI policies. Starbuck wrote on X that the FCC is actively exploring how to use enforcement powers to “eliminate DEI from major telecom companies,” warning, “Good luck with the FCC if you’re a woke company … You’re gonna need it!”
The FCC is already investigating Comcast and NBCUniversal over their DEI programs. In February, PBS shuttered its DEI office following an executive order from Trump targeting diversity efforts in publicly funded institutions. On Friday, a federal appeals court lifted a previous injunction, allowing the administration to begin enforcing those executive actions while litigation continues.
The potential consequences of Carr’s remarks are far-reaching. Blocking mergers due to DEI policies could upend billions of dollars in corporate deals and reshape the industry’s approach to workplace diversity. Media and telecom giants—many of which have implemented DEI programs to foster inclusivity and expand opportunity—now face pressure to abandon those efforts or risk a regulatory backlash.
The move also raises concerns about political interference in regulatory decision-making. Critics have likened Carr’s comments to authoritarian tactics, warning that the administration’s campaign against DEI may infringe on corporate autonomy and First Amendment protections.
MSNBC, currently being spun off from Comcast, could soon find itself in the FCC’s crosshairs. Trump has repeatedly attacked the network, recently suggesting that CNN and MSNBC “are going to be turned off.”
With the FCC poised to weaponize merger approvals as leverage against diversity initiatives, media companies now face a stark choice: scale back DEI efforts or risk regulatory retribution.
