Former FCC Officials Push Court to Force Vote on News Distortion Rule as Bipartisan Coalition Challenges Carr's Regulatory Approach

A coalition of former Federal Communications Commissioners and agency staffers across party lines is demanding a federal appeals court force the FCC to vote on repealing the News Distortion Policy, escalating a brewing controversy over Chair Brendan Carr's use of regulatory authority.

On Tuesday, the bipartisan group of former officials asked the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to require the FCC to act on their petition to repeal the rule. The petition was originally filed in November 2025, shortly after Carr invoked the News Distortion Policy to pressure ABC into temporarily suspending comedian Jimmy Kimmel. The former commissioners and staffers argue the policy has been abused and should be scrapped. Under FCC procedures, only the agency chair can bring a matter to a vote, giving Carr singular control over whether the petition advances.

The legal maneuver represents a rare instance of bipartisan agreement among former FCC officials on regulatory overreach. The News Distortion Policy, designed to address complaints about broadcast news accuracy, has drawn scrutiny under Carr's leadership for its deployment against media outlets in politically charged situations. The court filing signals growing frustration among former regulators that the FCC's enforcement discretion has been weaponized in ways that threaten press freedom and regulatory neutrality. The outcome could set a precedent limiting how future FCC chairs deploy similar policies, reshaping the boundaries of the commission's authority over broadcast content.