President Trump Nominates Danielle Thumann Severs as New Republican FCC Commissioner

As you know, the FCC is currently operating with three commissioners: Chairman Brendan Carr (R), Commissioner Olivia Trusty (R), and Commissioner Anna Gomez (D). 

While the FCC can operate with three commissioners, it can have up to five members.  In other words, there are two vacant seats, one Republican and one Democrat.

President Trump has nominated Danielle Thumann Severs to fill the vacant Republican seat on the commission.  Severs currently serves as Senior counsel to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr.  According to her FCC Bio:

“Danielle serves as Senior Counsel to FCC Chairman Carr on matters before the Wireline Bureau, the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, and the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau.  She rejoined then-Commission Carr’s Office in August 2024, after working in the private sector on government relations matters for a nationwide telecommunications infrastructure provider.  She previously served as Legal Advisor in Commissioner Carr’s Office from March 2021 until July 2023.  Before that, she worked as a communications attorney in the Washington, D.C. office of Wilkinson Barker Knauer.  She earned her Juris Doctorate, cum laude, from the Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law where she was Associate Editor of the Law Review.  She also received her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Virginia.”

Of course, Severs must be confirmed by the Senate.  No doubt Democrats in Congress will, at a minimum, want to the nomination “paired” with a Democrat nominee. Given her extensive communication background, she is certainly qualified to be and FCC Commissioner.  However, this is just the first inning of a much political longer game.