Disney's lawyers accused the Trump administration of constitutional violations and censorship during a federal court hearing Tuesday over the FCC's accelerated review of eight ABC local television station licenses.
The FCC ordered Disney to renew the licenses years ahead of schedule. The Trump administration has argued the early review stems from an investigation into Disney's hiring practices. Disney's legal team rejected that rationale in court, claiming the order targets ABC unfairly and breaches constitutional protections.
District Judge Loren AliKhan appeared skeptical of the government's stated justification during the hearing, according to The Guardian. The case centers on whether the FCC has authority to force an early license renewal and whether that order violates Disney's rights.
Television broadcasters must renew their licenses periodically with FCC approval. Accelerating that process by years would require Disney to invest resources in the renewal application sooner than scheduled. Disney operates eight local stations through ABC.
The legal challenge reflects escalating tension between the Trump administration and Disney over broadcasting licenses. An FCC order forcing early renewal is unusual and carries practical consequences for the company's regulatory and financial planning.
The hearing represents the first court test of the FCC's authority in this dispute. Judge AliKhan's comments suggest skepticism toward the government's hiring-practices rationale, though no ruling has been issued.