FCC

Who Might Replace Geoffrey Starks at the FCC?

Trump’s next move could upend agency norms.

Jericho Casper

Mar 20, 2025 — 2 min read

From top left to bottom right: Didier Barjon, tech and telecom legislative assistant to Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer; Angie Kronenberg, president & CEO of Sligo Solutions; Philip Murphy, senior professional staff for the Senate Commerce Committee; Asad Ramzanali, former special assistant to President Biden at the Office of Science and Technology Policy; Parul Desai, chief counsel for the House Committee on Energy and Commerce; Edward Smith, senior vice president of government affairs for T-Mobile; David Goldman; vice president of satellite policy at SpaceX; and Narda Jones, former chief of staff at the FCC.

WASHINGTON, March 20, 2025 – The future of the Federal Communications Commission is in flux as Commissioner Geoffrey Starks prepares to step down this spring. But the real question isn’t just who will replace him, it’s whether President Donald Trump will honor tradition and nominate a Democratic successor, at all.

Trump has already signaled a willingness to defy independent agency norms. On Tuesday, he removed two Democratic Federal Trade Commission members. That’s just the latest of multiple attempts to expand executive oversight over independent regulatory bodies, including the FCC.

Now, some officials believe Trump may refuse to fill Starks’ seat, or select a Democrat more aligned with his administration’s telecom priorities, breaking with the long-standing tradition of allowing the Senate minority leader to help choose the nominee.

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FCC Geoffrey Starks Donald Trump FTC Brendan Carr Didier Barjon Chuck Shumer David Goldman SpaceX Narda Jones Jessica Rosenworcel Angie Kronenberg INCOMPAS T-Mobile joey wender SHLB Phil Murphy Edward Smith Parul Desai House Energy and Commerce Anna Eshoo Joe Biden Olivia Trusty