FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel to Step Down as Trump Transition Shifts Leadership

Rosenworcel's departure on January 20, 2025, will enable a Republican majority under new FCC Chair Brendan Carr.

Jessica Rosenworcel, the first woman to serve as permanent FCC Chair, announced her resignation effective January 20, 2025, aligning with President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration.
Her resignation adheres to the tradition of FCC chairs stepping down when the opposing party takes the White House, leaving the agency evenly split between two Democrats and two Republicans until a new commissioner is appointed.
Rosenworcel's tenure included significant achievements, such as expanding broadband access for over 23 million households and creating the FCC's first Space Bureau to oversee satellite communications.
She was a strong advocate for restoring net neutrality rules, which had been repealed under the previous Trump administration, and worked to close the digital divide for students and underserved communities.
President-elect Trump has selected Republican Commissioner Brendan Carr to serve as the next FCC Chair, which will shift the agency to a 3-2 Republican majority once a new Republican commissioner is confirmed.