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The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) quietly removed its own “independent” label from its website after Chairman Brendan Carr had a tense exchange with a Democratic lawmaker on Capitol Hill.
On Wednesday, Carr appeared before the Senate Commerce Committee, testifying for the first time since his comments in September targeting ABC’s handling of its late-night host Jimmy Kimmel over his controversial remarks about the Charlie Kirk assassination.
Sen. Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., grilled Carr on whether he thought the FCC is an “independent” agency.
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Brendan Carr, commissioner at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), during a Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee oversight hearing in Washington, DC, US, on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025. (Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“Senator, thanks for that question,” Carr began responding.
“Yes or no is all we need, sir,” Luján immediately interjected.
Luján then presented a printout of the FCC’s website that stated its an “independent U.S. government agency overseen by Congress.”
“On your website, it simply says, man, ‘the FCC is independent.’ This isn’t a trick question,” Luján told Carr.
“The FCC is not-” Carr attempted to answer.
“So is your website wrong? Is your website lying?” the Democrat pressed.
“Possibly,” Carr responded.
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Sen. Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., grilled Carr on whether the FCC is considered an “independent” government agency. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Carr went on to assert, “The FCC is not an independent agency — formally speaking,” to which Luján replied, “I appreciate you saying that and being honest with the American people.”
Digital confirmed that the website removed the word “independent” from its “About” page, which was first reported by Axios reporter Sara Fischer.
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The FCC removed its own reference as an “independent” agency following Carr’s tense Senate hearing. (Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
A spokesperson for the FCC told Digital, “With the change in Administration earlier this year, the FCC’s website and materials required updating. That work continues to ensure that they reflect the positions of the agency’s new leadership.”
‘ Alba Cuebas-Fantauzzi contributed to this report.
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