For weeks, the rise of Brendan Carr to the role of Chairman at the Federal Communications Commission — should President Trump return to the White House — has been discussed as a foregone conclusion. On Sunday evening, President-Elect Trump turned the rumors into reality.
In a statement from the Trump/Vance Transition team, the once and future president was “pleased to announce” that Carr “will be Chairman” of the FCC once the new administration takes control of the White House.
This makes the departure of current Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel all but inevitable. Although Rosenworcel’s term formally concludes in the summer of 2025, it is highly unlikely she would stay on as a Democratic Commissioner.
Carr is presently the senior Republican-aligned Commissioner at the FCC, and before taking a post as Commissioner served as the FCC’s General Counsel. Carr was first nominated to the FCC by President Trump during his first term in office, in 2017. He was confirmed unanimously by the U.S. Senate three times.
Carr’s current term runs through 2029.
In the announcement, President-Elect Trump called Commissioner Carr “a warrior for Free Speech, and has fought against the regulatory ‘Lawfare’ that has stifled Americans’ Freedoms, and held back our Economy.”
Trump also believes Carr “will end the regulatory onslaught that has been crippling America’s Job Creators and Innovators, and ensure that the FCC delivers for rural America.”
Carr has served at the FCC since 2012, including as an Advisor to former FCC Chairman Ajit Pai.
On social media platform X, Carr thanked President Trump, commenting, “I am humbled and honored to serve as Chairman of the FCC. Now we get to work.”
Among those offering congratulations on X were its owner, Elon Musk.
In a statement released Sunday night, NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt said the organization “congratulates Commissioner Carr on his selection as the next chairman of the FCC. Commissioner Carr has been a steadfast leader in holding Big Tech accountable and supporting policies that will allow local broadcast stations to better compete with these behemoths and thrive. We are excited to continue our work with the chairman-designate to level the playing field and remove regulatory barriers that impede investment in local broadcast newsrooms. Together we will ensure local television and radio stations can innovate and continue to serve communities across the country.”
On Monday, the nation’s largest licensee of broadcast television stations — which has taken the FCC of Jessica Rosenworcel to court over its last quadrennial order, which tightened broadcast TV local ownership rules — chimed in. In a statement, Nexstar Media Group Chairman/CEO Perry Sook congratulated Commissioner Carr “on being named incoming Chairman at the FCC. He is an outstanding choice who understands the needs of local broadcasters and we look forward to working with him during this transformational era.”
