FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez Seeks New Term.

FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez says she wants to remain on the commission, despite spending much of her tenure as its lone Democrat publicly challenging some of the agency’s most consequential decisions.

Gomez’s term expired at the end of June, but she remains under a carryover provision that could allow her to serve through the end of 2027 unless another commissioner is nominated and confirmed by the Senate.

“I’d love to be reconfirmed, and I have supporters in the Senate, which I’m very grateful for,” Gomez told The Hollywood Reporter.

Gomez said she believes it is important to have a Democratic voice pushing back against what she considers overreach by the Trump administration. “I think it’s important that we maintain somebody that pushes back against this administration’s overreaches,” she said.

A former telecommunications attorney who has held several government positions, including at the FCC, Gomez was nominated by President Joe Biden in 2023. She was confirmed 55-43 after Biden’s previous nominee, Gigi Sohn, withdrew following a lengthy confirmation fight.

President Trump subsequently appointed Republican Brendan Carr as FCC chairman, with Republican Olivia Trusty joining the commission in 2025. The FCC typically has five commissioners but can operate with a quorum of three.

Earlier this month, Trump nominated Danielle Thumann, Carr’s senior counsel, to a five-year term as a Republican commissioner. She has not yet been confirmed, and Trump has not indicated whether he intends to fill a potential fifth seat or support Gomez’s renomination.

During her tenure, Gomez has frequently dissented from major FCC actions. She opposed the agency’s 2-1 approval of the Paramount-Skydance merger, which included conditions involving Paramount’s DEI programs and newsroom operations at CBS.

Last spring, Gomez launched a nationwide First Amendment tour to highlight what she characterized as threats to broadcasters and newsrooms stemming from FCC actions under the Trump administration.

She has also criticized the FCC’s decision to pursue early renewal reviews of Disney’s broadcast licenses. The agency cited Disney’s DEI policies, while the action followed pressure from the Trump administration involving late-night host Jimmy Kimmel.

Gomez encouraged Disney to challenge the FCC in court, saying the case could have implications for other broadcasters, particularly smaller operators that may be less equipped to fight the agency.

“I’ve been talking for almost two years about the need to push back and to protect the free press and free expression,” Gomez said.

Disney/ABC sued the FCC earlier this month over what they described as a “retaliatory campaign” to punish the network for its programming.

Gomez said her disagreements with the agency do not necessarily translate into poor relationships with her fellow commissioners. She pointed to her support for FCC actions targeting robocalls and scams. “One thing that I don’t think people realize is that I actually work very well, and I work hard at maintaining a relationship with my colleagues,” she said.

First Amendment issues, however, remain a major point of disagreement. Gomez said she has heard from broadcasters concerned about covering certain subjects because they fear potential repercussions from the administration or FCC.

“I get asked all the time, ‘Is it safe for me to report on X?’” Gomez said. “The fact that you’re asking me that question is the problem because it is not for the FCC to make your editorial decisions.”

Gomez has received some bipartisan support for another term. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) previously criticized the FCC’s early review of Disney’s broadcast licenses, saying, “It is not government’s job to censor speech, and I do not believe the FCC should operate as the speech police.”

Senate Democrats have also called for Gomez’s renomination and a return to a fully staffed, bipartisan five-member commission.

“The FCC’s job is to protect consumers and promote innovation in the communications sector,” Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, said. “It can’t do this job unless it’s fully staffed, including by members of the minority party.”

Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) also expressed support, calling Gomez “a strong voice pushing back against political interference.”

Gomez said she does not seek out dissent for its own sake and enjoys the consumer-focused aspects of serving as a commissioner. But she intends to continue speaking out on First Amendment issues if she is given another term.

“I just think it’s so important to our democracy,” Gomez said. “This is a moment in time where I feel I have to do this, whether I enjoy it or not.”