FCC Investigating Disney Over DEI Programs

The Federal Communications Commission has officially opened up an investigation into the Walt Disney Company and ABC‘s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, FCC chair Brendan Carr said on Friday.

Why is the FCC looking into Disney?

“I have asked the @FCC’s Enforcement Bureau to open an investigation into Disney & ABC,” Carr announced in a post on X Friday. “While Disney started as an iconic American company, it recently went all in on DEI. I am concerned that their DEI practices may violate FCC prohibitions on invidious forms of discrimination.”

In a subsequent letter dated March 27 and addressed to Disney CEO Bob Iger, Carr said that, despite Disney rolling back some of its DEI policies, “significant concerns remain,” and that the FCC will be looking into whether or not Disney maintained policies that it deems as discriminatory, and not following FCC guidelines.

“While I have seen reports that Disney recently walked back some of its DEI programs, significant concerns remain,” wrote Carr in the letter (via Variety). “For one, I want to ensure that Disney ends any and all discriminatory initiatives in substance, not just name. For another, I want to determine whether Disney’s actions — whether ongoing or recently ended — complied at all times with applicable FCC regulations.”

Specifically, Carr points to previous reports that, beginning in 2020, Disney had mandated certain “inclusion standards” within the company, including ones that made sure that 50% of regular or recurring characters on TV shows come from “underrepresented groups.” According to Carr, these standards could have led to “forced racial and identity quotas into every level of production — demanding that ‘50% or more’ of writers, directors, crew and vendors be selected based on group identity.”

In response to the investigation, a Disney spokesperson said that the company was aware of the investigation. “We are reviewing the Federal Communications Commission’s letter, and we look forward to engaging with the commission to answer its questions.”

The move comes as the FCC continues to try and crack down on what it deems to be discriminatory practices caused by DEI policies. Following Donald Trump’s election in 2024, one of the administration’s biggest pushes has been to try and eliminate DEI policies across the government and private sector.