Disney and ABC sue FCC over alleged First Amendment retaliation

Disney and its ABC network filed a federal lawsuit on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, against the Federal Communications Commission, alleging that the agency’s demand for early renewal of broadcast licenses for eight ABC-owned stations is an unconstitutional retaliation for the network’s news coverage and criticism of President Donald Trump. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, seeks a court order to halt the FCC’s ongoing review and claims the agency is violating the First Amendment.

The legal action stems from an April 2026 FCC order requiring eight ABC-owned stations to file for license renewals years ahead of their scheduled expiration dates between 2028 and 2031. The FCC cited an ongoing investigation into Disney’s diversity, equity, and inclusion policies as the reason. However, Disney argues the move was politically motivated, pointing to a history of public attacks by President Trump and FCC Chairman Brendan Carr against ABC’s programming, including the daytime talk show “The View” and late-night host Jimmy Kimmel.

The complaint documents repeated statements from President Trump on social media calling for ABC to lose its broadcast...