Investigation Officially Launched, Disney/ABC Accused of "DEI Discrimination"

For months, President Donald Trump has railed against diversity, equity, and inclusion — also known as DEI — practices. Trump has called the practice “illegal” and representative of a “tyranny,” and he has worked incredibly hard to dismantle it. Multiple organizations within the federal government have ended DEI practices, and companies that continue the practice have been threatened by the President and those he has appointed within his administration.

One of the companies that was threatened was The Walt Disney Company, which has proudly stood by its diversity and inclusion practices for years.

Donald Trump wearing a black suit, white shirt, and red tie, is speaking into a microphone. His hands are raised, and his mouth is open in mid-speech. A crowd is visible in the background, along with a sign that partially reads "MAKE AMERICA," reminiscent of a scene from Captain America 4 within the MCU. — Credit: Gage Skidmore, Flickr

Just one month after the 2024 Presidential election, the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Brendan Carr, sent a letter to Disney CEO Bob Iger.

In the letter, Mr. Carr mainly discussed ABC News, which is owned by Disney, and said that the American people no longer trust the network. Mr. Carr was also one of the authors of the highly controversial Project 2025 and has voiced support for Mr. Trump’s desire to strip ABC, NBC, and CBS of their broadcast licenses.

He also accused ABC of trying to “extort” large amounts of money from the affiliates it worked with, and said ABC threatened to end contracts if they were not paid.

Bob Iger stood in front of streaming service tiles — Credit: Disney

Earlier this week, Mr. Carr revealed that he was working on finishing up a letter to send to Disney, saying that the FCC was launching an investigation into Disney in relation to its DEI initiatives. However, he remained relatively tight-lipped on exactly what part of Disney’s DEI practices were going to be the crux of the investigation.

Now, Disney has received that letter, and an investigation against the Mouse House has officially been launched.

According to a report from Deadline, the letter stated that the FCC is looking into whether Disney and ABC are “promoting invidious forms of DEI discrimination.”

“While I have seen reports that Disney recently walked back some of its DEI programs, significant concerns remain,” Carr said.

The FCC chair claims that the agency has authority as ABC is a regulated entity. He wrote that the Communications Act and commission rules prohibit regulated companies “from discriminating on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age or gender.”

Exterior of The Walt Disney Company office building. — Credit: Disney

The report continues:

In his letter, Carr does not mention specific Disney content, but he cited reports of the companies “launch what would amount to segregated affinity groups and spaces.” He also cited the company’s Reimagining Tomorrow initiative, claiming they were “a mechanism for advancing its DEI mission.” He also contended that ABC implemented mandatory “inclusion standards” that “may have forced racial and identity quotas into every level of production.”

Disney has eliminated its Reimagine Tomorrow hub, and it has evolved into a new inclusion framework on the company’s corporate impact website. Carr told Punchbowl News this week that he was planning a Disney investigation.

Disney Reimagine Tomorrow initiative — Credit: Disney

Last month, Disney changed the way it spoke about its DEI programs, instead saying that it would focus on fostering a company where everyone feels like they belong.

Disney has also released a short statement, confirming that the company received the letter from the FCC.

“We are reviewing the Federal Communications Commission’s letter, and we look forward to engaging with the commission to answer its questions.”

One of the two Democratic members of the FCC, Anna Gomez, has also spoken out against the investigation. She said that Mr. Carr is overstepping his authority and that “private businesses all over the country are under attack.”

“Government should have no business trying to roll back these efforts. It is not only detrimental to small businesses and companies that know exactly what their customers want, it is also dangerous. Many of you are the children of parents, grandparents or great-grandparents who escaped countries where aggressive government intervention in the private sector and government censorship led to disastrous consequences.”

Brendan Carr, in a suit with a striped tie, speaks passionately on stage. He gestures animatedly while addressing the audience. A blurred backdrop features text and logos, reminiscent of an FCC event. — Credit: Gage Skidmore, Flickr

Shortly after Mr. Trump was sworn in on January 20, Mr. Carr reinstated a complaint that had been filed against ABC for David Muir and Linsey Davis’s moderation of one of the Presidential debates.

Disney is not the only company being targeted by the Trump administration and its disdain for any and all DEI practices. Mr. Carr also reinstated a complaint against CBS over the way it edited an interview former Vice President Kamala Harris did with 60 Minutes.

Do you think the federal government has a right to tell private companies how to handle its DEI practices? Do you think Disney and ABC should be punished for promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.