The U.S. Senate has accredited Olivia Trusty, President Donald Trump’s first nominee to the FCC. This approval restores a quorum by filling the third seat within the commission. Trusty, a Republican, embarks on her initial five-year stint joining Chairman Brendan Carr, also Republican, and Anna Gomez, a Democrat.
Both her peers in the FCC and industry groups warmly welcomed Trusty. Brendan Carr noted her extensive experience from Capitol Hill and the private sector and expects her to be an outstanding FCC Commissioner. Similarly, Gomez acknowledged Trusty’s profound understanding of communications policy and technical expertise, which is expected to greatly benefit the agency.
Industry voices like USTelecom’s Jonathan Spalter and CTIA’s Ajit Pai echoed similar sentiments. The latter, a former FCC commissioner, remarked on Trusty’s comprehensive understanding of telecommunications accumulated from significant public service engagements.
Despite Trusty’s confirmation, two seats on the FCC remain vacant following the departures of Commissioners Geoffrey Starks and Nathan Simington. Starks, a Democrat, resigned earlier in the spring. Simington, whose term expired in June 2024, could have stayed until a successor’s confirmation or until the Congressional session concluded but chose to leave in early June.
Trusty’s confirmation was narrowly achieved with a Senate vote of 53-45, split predominantly along party lines. President Trump has yet to announce nominees for the remaining positions. As a bipartisan agency, the FCC limits each party to a maximum of three members.
Senator Maria Cantwell expressed reservations about Trusty’s nomination, emphasizing that it should have coincided with a Democrat to replace Starks. She cited spectrum management issues as a sticking point and voiced concerns about potential partisan manipulation by President Trump’s administration within the Commission.