The Walt Disney Company and its ABC television network have joined the list of media companies the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is investigating for their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices.

On Thursday, March 27, 2025, FCC Chair Brendan Carr announced concerns that Disney and ABC might be “promoting invidious forms of DEI discrimination” and said the agency’s Enforcement Bureau would examine whether any of their past or current policies violated any equal employment opportunity regulations, according to NPR.

“Numerous reports indicate that Disney’s leadership went all in on invidious forms of DEI discrimination a few years ago and apparently did so in a manner that infected many aspects of your company’s decisions,” Carr wrote in a letter to Disney CEO Robert Iger.

The inquiry follows Disney’s reduction of diversity efforts, including the termination of some initiatives and changes in the language used to describe DEI.

“We are reviewing the Federal Communications Commission’s letter, and we look forward to engaging with the commission to answer its questions,” Disney said, as NPR reported.

As previously reported by AFROTECH™, Disney has integrated DEI efforts into its business strategy rather than treating them as stand-alone social good initiatives.

For example, instead of focusing solely on “diversity & inclusion” metrics, the company has introduced a “talent strategy” emphasizing how its values drive business success.

Disclaimers that previously warned about outdated stereotypes in films like “Dumbo” and “Peter Pan” have moved to the details section, with softened language stating: “This program is presented as originally created and may contain stereotypes or negative depictions.”

Once dedicated to amplifying underrepresented voices, Disney’s Reimagine Tomorrow initiative has been replaced by a general corporate hub integrating DEI efforts into the overall brand. Employee groups have been rebranded from “Business Employee Resource Groups” to “Belonging Employee Resource Groups,” AFROTECH™ noted.

In the letter on Thursday, Carr acknowledged Disney’s recent efforts but said it wasn’t clear if the “underlying policies have changed in a fundamental manner,” adding that “all discriminatory initiatives” needed to end, NPR reported.

Disney joins NBC News and its parent company, Comcast, on the list of companies under scrutiny for allegedly promoting DEI programs.

As AFROTECH™ reported, the FCC is an independent federal agency that issues eight-year licenses to individual broadcast stations instead of networks.

On Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2025, the FCC cited “substantial evidence” indicating that NBC and Comcast continue to promote DEI initiatives.

“The FCC will be taking fresh action to ensure that every entity the FCC regulates complies with the civil rights protections enshrined in the Communications Act… including by shutting down any programs that promote invidious forms of DEI discrimination,” Carr wrote in a letter to Comcast CEO Brian Roberts, AFROTECH™ noted.