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The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has initiated an inquiry into the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies of Disney and its subsidiary, ABC.

FCC Chair Brendan Carr announced the probe on Friday, stating concerns that Disney's DEI policies may violate federal equal employment opportunity regulations.

In a letter to Disney CEO Bob Iger, Carr expressed his intent to determine whether the company has engaged in "invidious forms of DEI discrimination."

According to CNN, he criticized Disney for shifting its focus from producing successful content to embedding race- and gender-based criteria in its operations.

"For decades, Disney focused on churning out box office and programming successes," Carr wrote. "But then something changed. Disney has now been embroiled in rounds of controversy surrounding its DEI policies."

A Disney spokesperson responded to the FCC's inquiry, saying, "We are reviewing the Federal Communications Commission's letter, and we look forward to engaging with the commission to answer its questions."

The investigation into Disney is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to challenge diversity initiatives in private companies.

Federal regulators have already taken steps to eliminate DEI considerations in government hiring and are now pressuring businesses to abandon similar policies.

Carr has warned that media companies promoting DEI policies could face significant regulatory roadblocks, including the denial of mergers and acquisitions.

"Any businesses that are looking for FCC approval, I would encourage them to get busy ending any sort of their invidious forms of DEI discrimination," Carr said in an interview last week.

FCC Investigates Disney, Comcast, and Verizon Over Diversity Programs

Legal experts note that federal regulators traditionally intervene in corporate mergers when competition or consumer prices are at risk, not due to human resource policies.

However, Carr's stance suggests that the FCC may use DEI practices as grounds to block pending media deals, including the proposed merger between Paramount and Skydance, as well as Verizon's acquisition of Frontier.

Other companies have also come under FCC scrutiny for their diversity initiatives. Letters similar to Disney's have been sent to Comcast and Verizon, signaling that regulators are expanding their oversight, USA Today said.

Meanwhile, major corporations such as Meta, Amazon, McDonald's, and Goldman Sachs have already scaled back their DEI programs to avoid regulatory conflicts.

Disney recently adjusted its executive compensation policies, removing diversity and inclusion as a performance metric and replacing it with a broader "talent strategy." Despite these changes, Carr has indicated that Disney's revisions may not be enough to satisfy regulatory concerns.

The FCC's enforcement bureau will now gather detailed information on Disney and ABC's DEI-related programs and hiring practices.

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