The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has initiated an investigation into The Walt Disney Company‘s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced that the agency’s Enforcement Bureau will examine whether Disney and its subsidiary, ABC, have violated FCC equal employment opportunity regulations through their DEI initiatives. This move aligns with the current administration’s broader efforts to scrutinize corporate diversity programs.
In a letter addressed to Disney CEO Robert Iger, Chairman Carr expressed concerns that Disney’s DEI efforts may not comply with FCC regulations, potentially leading to exclusionary hiring practices and programming decisions based on diversity criteria. The investigation will assess both current and past policies to determine compliance. According to the Wall Street Journal:
President Trump has made battling diversity programs a pillar of his administration, signing executive orders to end policies and killing DEI-related jobs in the federal government.
In a departure from the administration’s bigger push to cut back regulation, Carr has promised to use the FCC’s enforcement powers to combat diversity initiatives in the private sector—such as scuttling mergers of companies with programs it doesn’t approve of.
This development follows Disney’s recent scaling back of certain diversity initiatives. Despite these changes, the company continues to face scrutiny and political pressure regarding its DEI commitments. Notably, Disney shareholders recently rejected a proposal to withdraw from the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index, reaffirming the company’s dedication to woke policies.
As the FCC’s investigation unfolds, it underscores the complex and often contentious landscape surrounding corporate DEI initiatives.The outcome may have significant implications for how companies navigate diversity policies within the framework of federal regulations.
