Trusty Confirmed For Five-Year Term
Fetterman joins Republicans again
WASHINGTON, June 18, 2025 – Olivia Trusty was confirmed Wednesday to fill a five-year term as a Federal Communications Commission Commissioner, securing a 2-1 Republican majority and a quorum for FCC Chairman Brendan Carr.
Just like the vote held Tuesday to confirm Trusty to fill out the remaining 12-days in the term of former FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, the vote to confirm her to a new five-year term was 53-45. Sens. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., and James Risch R-Idaho, were absent. All present Republicans voted for Trusty and all present Democrats voted against her, except for Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa.
Trusty joins Carr and Democratic Commissioner Anna Gomez on the commission, which has seen a number of resignations recently, including Republican Nathan Simington and Democrat Geoffrey Starks. It is not known when Trusty will be sworn in to start her work at the FCC. The agency's next Open Meeting is June 26 at 10:30 a.m in Washington, D.C.
FROM SPEEDING BEAD SUMMIT
Panel 1: How Are States Thinking About Reasonable Costs Now?
Panel 2: Finding the State Versus Federal Balance in BEAD
Panel 3: Reacting to the New BEAD NOFO Guidance
Panel 4: Building, Maintaining and Adopting Digital Workforce Skills
In a Monday letter to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., expressed her fear that the Trump administration “will try to illegally terminate Gomez, refuse to nominate any Democratic replacements, and then operate the Commission on a strictly partisan basis.” If the administration were to attempt that now, it would leave the FCC with only two commissioners, short of the quorum necessary to conduct much of its business.
Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, congratulated Trusty on her nomination.
“The FCC plays a crucial role in securing our communications networks from bad actors and promoting fast, reliable, and affordable broadband access,” he said. “Olivia Trusty has a wealth of experience, including time spent as an Energy and Commerce staffer, and she will be an asset to the Commission. I look forward to working with her and the Commission to connect every American to reliable internet access and promote American technological leadership for the decades to come.”
