WASHINGTON, D.C. — Chatter over whether or not President Trump will soon fire the lone Democrat on the FCC could soon reach a fever pitch, as the Chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee — Texas Republican Ted Cruz — has revealed a nomination hearing for Danielle Thumann Severs will be held on Thursday.
In an announcement released late in the day, Cruz said the committee will convene a hearing to consider nominations for the FCC and the Department of Transportation, with the session starting at 10:30am Eastern in 253 Russell SOB.
First and foremost is the nomination of President Trump of Thumann to be a Commissioner on the FCC for a term of five years, retroactive from July 1, 2024. It is the seat last held by Republican Nathan Simington, who decided to leave the FCC early over reported acrimony regarding the selection of Carr by President Trump as Chairman.
Thumann’s nomination was sent from the White House to the Senate on August 7, at which time she said, “I am deeply humbled and honored by President Trump’s nomination to serve in this role. I look forward to the Senate confirmation process and, if confirmed, to serving our country with dedication and gratitude.”
Severs’ nomination in the midst of a contentious midterm election season could prove to be the ultimate GOP loyalty test to Republican Senators: If Congress approves the nomination, it potentially creates a 3-0 Republican majority with a potential firing of lone Democrat Anna Gómez. At the same time, Democrats could use the nomination hearing to vehemently request that President Trump fill out the FCC with a fifth nominee, bringing three Republicans and two Democrats to an agency short of its statutory maximum Commissioners for months.
On paper, Severs is a young technocrat on the rise. Today, she advises Chairman Carr on FCC matters before the Wireline Bureau; the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau; and the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau.
Severs is in her second stint on the FCC. She rejoined then-Commissioner Carr’s Office in August 2024, after working in the private sector on government relations matters for a nationwide telecommunications infrastructure provider. She previously served as Legal Advisor in Commissioner Carr’s Office from March 2021 until July 2023. Before that, she worked as a communications attorney in the Washington, D.C. office of Wilkinson Barker Knauer, home to such noted lawyers as David Oxenford and Davina Sashkin.
Severs is also one of three key individuals at the FCC, including Carr himself, who hold a J.D. from Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law.
In addition to Thumann’s nomination, the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation featuring Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) as Minority Leader and members including Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), will consider the president’s nomination of Leslie Becera to serve as Asst. Secretary of Transportation.
Meanwhile, the Justice Against Weaponized Bureaucratic Overreach to Networked Expression Act — introduced on June 11 by Sen. Cruz, will see a markup and vote on the bill (S. 4749) on Wednesday (9/16) at 10am Eastern. As of today, only Oregon Democrat Ron Wyden has signed on as a co-sponsor. The proposed legislation would allow Americans to sue federal officials for violating the First Amendment when they coerce social media companies, AI platforms, or broadcasters to change or take down protected speech.
With wording that creates the acronym “JAWBONE,” the proposed legislation would hold the government accountable for censorship and violations of the First Amendment. The subject of “Jawboning” is one that has been discussed inside the Beltway repeatedly since the return of President Trump the White House and installation of Brendan Carr as FCC Chairman.
