Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced today that she will leave the agency on January 20, 2025, the day of President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration.
"Serving at the Federal Communications Commission has been the honor of a lifetime, especially my tenure as chair and as the first woman in history to be confirmed to lead this agency," Rosenworcel said in today's announcement. Rosenworcel said that being chair during the pandemic "made clear how important the work of the FCC is and how essential it is for us to build a digital future that works for everyone."
Rosenworcel touted the agency's work in "setting up the largest broadband affordability program in history—which led to us connecting more than 23 million households to high-speed Internet, connecting more than 17 million students caught in the homework gap to hotspots and other devices as learning moved online." That discount program ended this year after Congress let funding run out, despite Rosenworcel's repeated pleas for more money.
Rosenworcel, a Democrat, is following tradition, as the FCC chair typically resigns when the opposing party wins the White House. The move will leave the FCC with two Democrats and two Republicans, paving the way for the GOP to add one member and gain a 3–2 majority.
FCC had 2-2 deadlock for most of Biden’s term
Rosenworcel became an FCC commissioner in 2012 and was promoted to chair by President Biden in 2021. She was forced to operate without a Democratic majority for most of her time as chair due to a series of political developments.
In December 2020, the Republican-controlled Senate rushed to confirm Trump nominee Nathan Simington, creating a 2-2 deadlock at the start of Biden's presidency in January 2021. Biden surprisingly waited until October 2021 to nominate a third Democrat, Gigi Sohn.
Sohn was never confirmed despite the Senate having a slim Democratic majority. Biden's second pick, Anna Gomez, was confirmed in September 2023. Ultimately, Rosenworcel had little more than a year to run the agency with a Democratic majority.
Trump plans to promote Republican Commissioner Brendan Carr to the chairmanship and will nominate a Republican to fill the FCC's fifth seat. Carr will likely get a 3-2 Republican majority early in his term as the GOP will have a 53-47 majority in the Senate.
Rosenworcel confident new chair “is familiar with the staff”
Rosenworcel led a 3-2 vote to reinstate net neutrality rules in October 2023, but the rules were blocked by an appeals court as judges said broadband providers are likely to win their case seeking to overturn the regulation. Carr would eliminate the rules even if they survive the challenge. He's also made it clear he will reverse other consumer protection initiatives started by Rosenworcel, such as an inquiry that could have resulted in regulation of data caps.
Rosenworcel issued a short statement on the pending leadership change on Monday. She congratulated Carr and said the FCC is "fortunate to have extraordinary expertise thanks to the hardworking public servants who labor faithfully to implement the law and help build a digital future that works for everyone. From his time here, I am confident that Commissioner Carr is familiar with the staff, the responsibilities of this new role, and the importance of continued US leadership in communications."
