President Trump has nominated Republican lawyer Danielle Thumann Severs to the Federal Communications Commission, a move that will give Republicans a 3-1 majority rather than pairing her appointment with a Democratic nominee as has been the historical norm. This breaks with decades of precedent in which presidents and the Senate cooperated to keep the majority party's advantage at just one seat, typically 3-2, and raises concerns among Senate Democrats and press freedom advocates given the FCC's growing role in Trump's clashes with broadcasters.

Thumann Severs currently serves as senior counsel to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, who has used the commission to investigate and threaten the licences of broadcasters seen as unfavourable to Trump; a third Republican vote would strengthen his hand. The FCC has operated with only a 2-1 Republican majority for most of Trump's second term due to unfilled seats, and since only three commissioners are needed for a quorum, some fear Trump could eventually fire the sole remaining Democrat, though a legal cap on partisan supermajorities would likely block a full 3-0 board. Senate Democrats, including Maria Cantwell and Ben Ray Luján, are pushing for a paired Democratic nomination before confirming Thumann Severs, while Commerce Committee chair Ted Cruz says the nomination will be assessed "on its merits"; the move echoes Trump's earlier ousting of both Democrats from the Federal Trade Commission, upheld by the Supreme Court.