She’s all but certain to be confirmed as the next Commissioner of the FCC and on April 9 was quizzed by Members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation as part of a nomination hearing. On April 30, the full Committee will vote on whether or not to send Olivia Trusty’s nomination up to the full Senate for a floor vote.
An Executive Session of the powerful committee helmed by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) is scheduled for Wednesday, and the nomination of Olivia Trusty to serve as the third Republican on the FCC is atop the agenda list. The session is scheduled to start at 10am Eastern, and also includes a vote to send to the full Senate the nomination of Jared Isaacman as NASA Administrator.
No less than 17 Senate bills are also up for a vote, as is a Coast Guard promotion.
Trusty is widely believed to be on the fast track to being sat as the FCC’s third Republican, joining Nate Simington and Chairman Brendan Carr. Democrats would be left with a lone vote-maker: Anna M. Gomez, who has been outspoken in opposition of the Carr Commission’s “weaponization” of the Commission under the direction of President Trump.
As previously reported, Democratic FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks is leaving before summer begins. By statute, he will need to be replaced by a Democrat or political independent — so long as it is not a Republican-aligned nominee.
When could Trusty be seated? Washington insiders believe this could come before the end of May, with the Senate in session until the Memorial Day holiday.
