Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) is working to expand the Republican majority on the Federal Communications Commission ahead of the Democratic Senate takeover in January 2027. Cruz announced a November 10 nomination hearing for President Trump's FCC pick, Danielle Thumann Severs, aiming to move her to a full Senate vote during his final months as Commerce Committee chairman. Confirming Thumann Severs would give Republicans a 3-1 advantage on the FCC.
However, this majority could narrow to 3-0 by the end of 2027, as Commissioner Anna Gomez would be required to leave if Trump does not renominate her. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) has warned that federal law prohibits an all-Republican FCC, arguing that any official action could be overturned in court due to the Communications Act's statutory history. Wyden wrote to Gomez that running the agency with a partisan 3-0 panel would create "crippling legal uncertainty" over license renewals, equipment certifications, and spectrum transfers.
Trump has not nominated a Democrat to fill the other empty FCC seat nor renominated Gomez to continue past 2027, breaking traditional bipartisan precedent.
Source: Ars Technica · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing