The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has reportedly initiated an investigation into The Walt Disney Company and ABC regarding their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced this decision in a letter to Disney CEO Bob Iger, emphasizing concerns that the company’s DEI initiatives may violate regulations concerning equal employment opportunities.
Under President Trump’s administration, DEI initiatives have faced increasing scrutiny, as the administration claims they prioritize diversity over qualifications.
Following the president’s mandate to eliminate DEI departments across federal agencies, the entertainment sector has now become a focus of this crackdown.
In his letter, Carr raised alarms about whether Disney has been promoting discriminatory practices under the guise of DEI, particularly given recent reports that the company has rolled back some of its programs.
He stressed the importance of ensuring that any such initiatives are not merely a rebranding but represent a genuine change in policy.
Throughout the past few years, Disney has made DEI a central tenet of its operations, implementing policies that reportedly enforced racial and gender quotas in hiring.
Some whistleblower accounts suggest the creation of racially segregated affinity groups and mandatory inclusion standards requiring a significant percentage of characters to be from “underrepresented groups.”
Carr reiterated that the Communications Act prohibits discrimination based on race, gender, and other protected characteristics, raising concerns that Disney’s actions might not comply with FCC rules.
As part of the investigation, the Enforcement Bureau will engage with Disney to review its DEI policies and practices.
This investigation underscores the ongoing tensions surrounding DEI initiatives in American corporations, balancing the pursuit of diversity with adherence to federal anti-discrimination laws.
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