The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is set to gain a new commissioner, with President Trump nominating Republican Danielle Thumann Severs to fill one of the empty seats. This move is expected to give Republicans a 3-1 majority on the FCC, breaking a historical norm where the president's party maintains only a one-vote majority.
Historically, the FCC has operated with a 3-2 split, with the president's party holding three seats and the minority party holding two. However, during Trump's second term, the FCC has been shorthanded, operating with a 2-1 Republican majority.
Thumann Severs, a lawyer, has been working as senior counsel to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. Her nomination must be confirmed by the Republican-controlled Senate before she can be sworn in as a commissioner.
The move to nominate Thumann Severs, rather than filling the empty Democratic seat, is seen as a departure from the traditional approach. Typically, the president and Senate work together to ensure that the president's party maintains a one-vote majority, rather than a more significant advantage.
With Thumann Severs' nomination, the FCC is expected to have a 3-1 Republican majority, once she is confirmed by the Senate. This could have significant implications for the commission's decisions and policies going forward.
The nomination is the latest development in the FCC's ongoing operations, which have been impacted by the empty seats. The commission has continued to function with a reduced membership, but the addition of Thumann Severs is expected to bring a new perspective to the table.
<small>Source: Ars Technica — read the original story there.</small>
