FCC commissioner sounds alarms about free speech ‘chilling effect’ under Trump
FCC Commissioner Sounds Alarm on Trump’s Media Attacks, First Amendment
Updated June 01, 2025
Federal Communications Commissioner Anna M.Gomez voiced concerns this week in Los Angeles that President Trump’s attacks on the media could undermine the First Amendment. Her appearance at Cal State L.A. sought community feedback on the evolving media landscape since Trump’s return to office.
gomez highlighted actions such as the expulsion of Associated Press journalists from the White House and an executive order threatening funding cuts to PBS and NPR.According to Alejandra Santamaria, chief executive of Southern California Public Radio, Pasadena-based LAist could lose nearly $1.7 million,about 4% of its budget,if the order takes effect. This potential loss underscores the financial impact of the governance’s policies on public media.
“The point of all these actions is to chill speech,” Gomez said, emphasizing the need for public awareness and resistance. She noted the FCC was designed as an independent body to prevent presidential control.
Tensions between the administration and the media have escalated. Trump sued CBS and “60 Minutes” over edits to an interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris, alleging bias. CBS denied the allegations, and raw footage supported the accuracy of the quotes. Afterward, Trump-appointed FCC Chairman Brendan Carr revived bias complaints against ABC, NBC, and CBS, demanding the release of unedited footage from “60 Minutes.”
The FCC’s review of Skydance media’s potential acquisition of CBS-parent Paramount Global is complex by Trump’s $20 billion lawsuit against CBS. The president reportedly rejected Paramount’s $15 million settlement offer, seeking a larger sum, according to the Wall Street Journal. Amid this, two CBS News executives involved with ”60 Minutes” recently departed.
Gomez declined to comment on the Skydance-Paramount deal, but stated that scrutiny of edits to a national newscast is not part of the public interest analysis for mergers and acquisitions. She is currently the lone dissenting voice at the FCC and will soon be the only Democrat on the panel.
Gomez has openly challenged Carr’s policies, arguing that investigations into diversity and inclusion at companies like Walt Disney Co. exceed the FCC’s regulatory scope. She believes the pressure campaign is effective, citing instances where news providers are allegedly toning down criticism of the administration due to corporate transactions.
“When you see corporate parents of news providers … telling their broadcasters to tone down their criticisms of this administration… that is a chilling effect,” Gomez said.
The forum, organized by Free Press, included pleas for help from professors, journalists, and advocates. One journalist reported losing her job at Voice of America after Trump targeted the institution. Latino journalists also discussed difficulties covering stories due to fear caused by the administration’s immigration policies.
Gabriel Lerner, editor emeritus of La Opinión, warned against complacency, comparing it to “those who dance on the Titanic thinking it will never sink.”
In response, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly stated, “President Trump is leading the most clear administration in history… He will continue to fight against censorship while evaluating all federal spending.”
What’s next
With Geoffrey Starks stepping down next month, the FCC will consist of three commissioners: gomez, Carr, and Republican nathan Simington. Trump has nominated a third Republican, Olivia Trusty, though her appointment awaits Senate confirmation. The future composition of the FCC remains uncertain, raising concerns about the balance of power and its impact on media regulation and the fight against censorship.