TLDR
- Disney and ABC filed a lawsuit against the FCC in federal court in Washington, D.C.
- The suit aims to stop an early review of licenses for eight ABC television stations
- Disney says the FCC is trying to punish ABC for refusing to comply with administration demands
- FCC Chairman Brendan Carr ordered the review in April, linking it to a DEI investigation
- The lawsuit argues the FCC’s actions violate ABC’s First Amendment rights
Disney and ABC are taking the Federal Communications Commission to court, arguing the agency is being used as a political weapon against the network.
On Tuesday, Disney filed a lawsuit in federal court alleging that Trump's FCC is violating its First Amendment rights. https://t.co/1T4J8syRRd pic.twitter.com/o7RZnVSFWe
— CNN (@CNN) August 18, 2026
The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Disney says the FCC is trying to coerce and retaliate against ABC because the network has refused to comply with demands from the Trump administration.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly called on broadcasters to drop programs he dislikes or that have been critical of him. He has also pushed the FCC on multiple occasions to revoke ABC’s broadcast licenses.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr ordered an early review of Disney’s eight ABC stations back in April. Carr said the review is connected to an FCC investigation into Disney’s diversity, equity, and inclusion practices, not the network’s programming.
ABC has also been under scrutiny over its daytime talk show “The View.” The FCC has been investigating whether the program violated equal-time rules for political candidates.
First Amendment at the Center of the Case
Disney’s lawsuit argues that the FCC’s actions violate ABC’s First Amendment rights. The company is asking the court to halt the license proceedings entirely.
Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro has been direct in defending the network. He said the company’s position on the FCC dispute is clear and that Disney would not be told how to run its business.
The case raises questions about the independence of broadcast regulators and the limits of government pressure on news and entertainment companies.
Disney Stock Falls as Legal Battle Begins
Disney shares fell more than 3% on Tuesday as news of the lawsuit spread.
The legal battle adds uncertainty for investors already watching Disney navigate a challenging media environment. Broadcast licenses are essential to the company’s traditional television business.
Disney owns eight ABC affiliate stations across major U.S. markets. Losing or facing disruption to those licenses would have a direct impact on its broadcast operations.
The outcome of the case could affect how the FCC handles reviews of broadcast licenses for other major networks as well.
The lawsuit marks one of the more direct legal confrontations between a major media company and a federal regulator in recent years. Disney is asking the court to step in before the license review process goes further.
As of Tuesday morning, no court date had been set.
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