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last mo.

FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks Announces Resignation, Potentially Shifting Partisan Balance

Starks’ departure this spring could temporarily give Republicans a 2-1 majority on the FCC as Senate confirmation delays persist.

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FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks sits at a table and speaks into a microphone while holding a pen in his right hand while testifying during a Senate hearing

Overview

  • Geoffrey Starks, a Democratic FCC Commissioner since 2019, has announced he will step down this spring, cutting short his term set to expire in 2027.
  • The FCC, currently split 2-2 between Republicans and Democrats, will face two vacancies following Starks’ resignation.
  • Republican nominee Olivia Trusty has yet to be confirmed by the Senate, leaving uncertainty about the FCC's future composition.
  • If Starks departs before Trusty’s confirmation, Republicans could gain a temporary 2-1 majority, allowing Chair Brendan Carr to advance partisan policies.
  • Carr has previously pursued controversial investigations into public broadcasters PBS and NPR, raising concerns about potential policy shifts under a Republican-led FCC.