WASHINGTON — FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez sent a four-page letter to Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro in May 2026 condemning recent Federal Communications Commission investigations into Disney as a “sustained, coordinated campaign of censorship and control.” Gomez, the sole Democrat on the FCC, accused the agency under Chairman Brendan Carr of launching inquiries targeting Disney’s diversity practices, ABC’s moderation of a 2024 presidential debate, guest selections on “The View,” and prior administration calls for Jimmy Kimmel’s firing.

She described the FCC’s move to initiate early reviews of ABC’s broadcast licenses in markets where it owns local stations as “the most egregious assault on the First Amendment this FCC has taken to date.” Gomez argued the license reviews were intended to intimidate the network and undermine press freedom. In her letter, she also referenced Disney’s $15 million defamation settlement with President Trump shortly before his return to office, writing that it “did not buy peace but only bought time.”

Gomez posted the letter publicly on social media. D’Amaro has not issued a direct response, but in a regulatory filing this month, he accused the FCC of taking actions that could “chill critical protected speech.” She said she was heartened by Disney’s legal filing and urged other broadcasters to prepare for similar confrontations.

The commissioner cited CBS’s settlement with Trump—which included appointing an ombudsperson to oversee content—as another example of FCC pressure on media companies. She also noted ABC had settled its own lawsuit with the president. Gomez said that every time the Trump administration is sued over First Amendment or press freedom violations, “it loses,” and expressed confidence that any legal challenge to the FCC’s current conduct would prevail in court.

Gomez, whose FCC term ends June 30, 2026, said she checks her phone each morning “to see if President Trump has fired her.” While Trump has removed most Democratic agency members since returning to office, Gomez can remain at the FCC for about 18 months after her term expires if no successor is confirmed. Confirmation would be difficult before the midterms due to the Senate’s narrow divide. She added that she and Carr maintain a cordial working relationship despite sharp disagreements, and that her presence enables the quorum needed for Carr to advance his agenda.