ABC sues FCC over early license review, alleging Trump administration retaliation

Aug 18, 2026

Disney and ABC have sued the Federal Communications Commission in federal court, seeking to block an early license review of eight ABC-owned television stations. The lawsuit alleges that the Trump administration and FCC Chairman Brendan Carr are waging a retaliatory campaign to punish the network for editorial content, including late-night satire by Jimmy Kimmel. While the FCC asserts the review is a legitimate probe into Disney's diversity, equity, and inclusion practices, the lawsuit and dissenting FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez characterize the agency's actions as an existential threat to First Amendment press freedoms.

ABC lawsuit against FCC

▪Disney and ABC filed a lawsuit against the Federal Communications Commission on August 18, 2026, in a federal court in Washington, D.C., seeking to block early broadcast license renewal proceedings.
▪ABC and Disney filed a motion for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to immediately halt the Federal Communications Commission's early license review process.

Early broadcast license review

▪The Federal Communications Commission ordered an early license review for eight ABC-owned television stations in April 2026, years before their scheduled expirations between 2028 and 2031.
▪The eight ABC-owned stations facing early review are KFSN-TV in Fresno, KABC-TV in Los Angeles, KGO-TV in San Francisco, WLS-TV in Chicago, WABC-TV in New York, WTVD in Durham, WPVI-TV in Philadelphia, and KTRK-TV in Houston.
▪The Federal Communications Commission stated the early license review was initiated to investigate whether Disney's diversity, equity, and inclusion practices violate federal anti-discrimination laws.

Trump administration retaliation allegations

▪Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr warned in March 2026 that stations airing 'fake news' could lose their licenses, and previously suggested Jimmy Kimmel's show could lead to additional agency action.
▪The early license review was announced shortly after ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel made an 'expectant widow' joke about First Lady Melania Trump in April 2026, which Donald Trump characterized as a call to violence.
▪ABC's lawsuit alleges the Trump administration and Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr waged a retaliatory campaign to punish the network for editorial decisions and news coverage they dislike.
▪The Federal Communications Commission is investigating the ABC daytime program 'The View' over potential violations of political equal opportunity regulations.

First Amendment press freedom

▪Federal Communications Commission Commissioner Anna Gomez, the sole Democrat on the agency, commended ABC and Disney for filing the lawsuit to push back against government intimidation.
▪A group of former Federal Communications Commission officials warned in a July 2026 filing that the agency's early license review of ABC stations sends a chilling message to broadcasters.
▪ABC's lawsuit argues that the Federal Communications Commission's actions pose an existential threat to press freedom and are calculated to operate in terrorem upon the entire media industry.

Trump threats to media

▪Donald Trump called for ABC's licenses to be revoked after the network declined to broadcast his July 16, 2026, prime-time address on linear television, opting instead to stream it.
▪Donald Trump repeatedly called for ABC's broadcast licenses to be revoked during his 2024 presidential campaign and following a September 2024 debate against Kamala Harris.