WASHINGTON/LOS ANGELES: The U.S. government is intensifying scrutiny of corporate diversity policies, with Disney and ABC now under formal investigation by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

FCC Chair Brendan Carr has launched an investigation into whether Walt Disney and its ABC network have violated federal equal employment opportunity rules through their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. Carr raised the issue in a letter sent to Disney CEO Robert Iger on Thursday.

"I want to ensure that Disney ends any and all discriminatory initiatives in substance, not just name," Carr wrote in the letter, which Reuters reviewed.

The investigation comes amid broader efforts by the FCC, under Carr's leadership, to examine how media companies are implementing DEI practices. Similar letters have been sent to Comcast and Verizon, signaling that more companies could face regulatory scrutiny.

A Disney spokesperson responded: "We are reviewing the Federal Communications Commission's letter, and we look forward to engaging with the commission to answer its questions."

Disney recently adjusted its executive compensation framework, replacing DEI as a performance metric with a new standard described as "talent strategy," which the company says still reflects its core values.

Carr noted that the FCC's Enforcement Bureau will now seek a full "accounting of Disney and ABC's DEI programs, policies, and practices."

Appointed chair by President Donald Trump on January 20, Carr has taken a more aggressive stance toward media regulation. In recent months, the FCC, under his leadership, has revived complaints against major networks regarding their coverage of the 2024 presidential election and political programming decisions.

In December, ABC News paid $15 million to Trump's presidential library foundation to resolve a lawsuit concerning on-air comments by anchor George Stephanopoulos related to a civil case involving writer E. Jean Carroll.

The FCC has also reinstated prior complaints about CBS's "60 Minutes" interview with Vice President Kamala Harris and the network's handling of a televised presidential debate between Trump and Joe Biden. Trump, who won the 2024 election, has sued CBS for $20 billion, alleging that the network edited the interview in a manner that allegedly interfered with the election.

CBS, owned by Paramount Global, asked the FCC to dismiss the complaint. Carr rejected the request, stating that the investigation would proceed.