Disney and ABC have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over an FCC directive requiring eight Disney-owned stations to apply for broadcast license renewals years ahead of schedule.
Filed Tuesday in federal court in Washington, D.C., the lawsuit seeks to prevent the Federal Communications Commission from acting on the early renewal applications. Disney and ABC argue the move is part of a broader campaign against the network because of content the administration dislikes.
According to NBC News, the stations’ licenses were not scheduled for renewal until at least 2028.
Disney calls FCC action an ‘existential threat’
Disney’s lawsuit characterizes the FCC’s order as an “existential threat” and claims the agency has targeted ABC due to its programming.
The company states the stations were given only 30 days to submit applications that typically require months to prepare.
“Acting through the Federal Communications Commission, the Administration has waged a retaliatory campaign against ABC for a single reason: it disapproves of what ABC broadcasts,” the complaint states.
Disney is asking the court to immediately block the FCC from acting against its ABC stations regarding the accelerated renewal process. ABC has also sought a “temporary restraining order” and an expedited hearing.
FCC defends its scrutiny of ABC
An FCC spokesperson said, per NBC News, “All broadcasters have a legal obligation to operate in the public interest—even Disney.”
The agency also referenced a separate investigation into allegations that Disney engaged in unlawful discrimination related to its diversity, equity, and inclusion practices.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has previously rejected Disney’s characterization of the agency’s actions as retaliation.
“If you want to uniquely be on the public’s airwaves, you have to comply with those obligations,” Carr told CNBC in July. He also argued that broadcasters could instead move their content to cable, streaming or podcasts.
The View is part of the dispute
The accelerated license review coincided with the FCC’s examination of ABC’s daytime program The View and Disney’s DEI practices.
ABC has maintained that The View qualifies as a legitimate news program and has cited a 2002 FCC staff decision involving the show.
Carr has challenged whether that earlier ruling still applies. He told CNBC, “Well, the 2002 was a staff-level decision that was based on representations made in the record all the way back in 2002, and so there’s a question of, is the program still the same today as it was back then?”
The dispute follows the administration’s scrutiny of ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel. In September 2025, Disney temporarily removed Jimmy Kimmel Live! from the air after pressure from Carr.
Disney CEO vows to defend ABC
Disney’s latest legal action comes shortly after newly appointed CEO Josh D’Amaro publicly addressed the company’s dispute with the FCC.
“We’re going to stand up to what we believe is journalistic integrity,” D’Amaro told CNBC on August 14. “And we’re not going to be told how to run that side of our business,” he said of ABC.
D’Amaro also said: “I like what we do. We tell incredible stories. I think we do it well. We do it around the world. And we’re going to stay committed to that.”
Anna M. Gomez, FCC’s sole Democratic commissioner, welcomed Disney and ABC’s lawsuit. She described the agency’s actions as “overreaching government pressure” and suggested the challenge could prompt other broadcasters to push back.