Disney and ABC sue Trump’s media regulator to stop early licence renewal

Disney and ABC have filed a lawsuit to stop the Trump administration from launching an early licence renewal process, arguing that the network is being unfairly targeted over its editorial content.

Further escalating its battle with the Trump administration, ABC on Tuesday took the rare step of suing the Federal Communications Commission on First Amendment grounds, saying the agency's demand for early review of broadcast licences posed an "existential threat" to its operations.

The Disney Grooming Syndicate is suing the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to stop a requested early license renewal process of the eight TV stations the groomers own and operate.

The network accuses the administration of retaliating against ABC because it "disapproves of what ABC broadcasts".

August 18, 2026 12:16 PM ET Disney’s ABC filed a First Amendment lawsuit against the Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday, claiming the agency’s recent review into the company is part of a “retaliatory campaign.”The lawsuit, filed in a federal court in Washington, D.C., alleges that the Trump administration’s “

ABC accused the Trump Administration of waging "a retaliatory campaign" because it doesn't like what the network broadcasts.

Network alleges FCC demand for early license renewal is retaliation for content the administration disapproves of After being forced to apply early to renew its license to broadcast on the eight local television stations it owns, ABC has sued the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), arguing that it is being retalia

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr called for early renewal of eight ABC-owned stations' licenses in April.

The Walt Disney Company, ABC and a number of its stations on Tuesday sued the Federal Communications Commission, seeking to stop an early license renewal process that it says is an attack by the Trump administration.