Trump’s FCC launches inquiry into gender identity in kids’ TV shows

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is launching a new inquiry into the TV ratings system, including whether content related to gender identity is not adequately flagged for parents, in the latest warning shot to broadcasters from the agency headed by the Trump loyalist Brendan Carr.

The new proceeding, announced on Wednesday, asks for public comment on the transparency of the TV Oversight Management Board, which oversees the rating system and guidelines. That system was developed after Congress passed a law in 1996, leading to the creation of numerous ratings such as TV-Y, for programs deemed appropriate for all children, and TV-MA, for mature audiences.

The so-called “industry voluntary rating system” is used by broadcast networks overseen by the FCC, as well as cable, satellite and streaming services, which are not subject to the same guidelines.

In its public notice of the new inquiry, the FCC singled out non-binary and transgender topics as an issue of concern. According to the agency’s Media Bureau, “parents have raised concerns that controversial gender identity issues are being included or promoted in children’s programs without providing any disclosure or transparency to parents. Specifically, the industry guidelines that parents rely on are rating shows with transgender and gender non-binary programming as appropriate for children and young children, and doing so without providing this information to parents, thereby undermining the ability of parents to make informed choices for their families.”

The statement added: “Consistent with Congress’s vision for the ratings system, we seek comment on whether the industry’s approach is continuing to provide the information that is relevant to parents today.” Among the questions posed to the public are: “Are parents aware that children watching programs rated TV-Y, TV-Y7, and TV-G may contain the discussion or promotion of gender identity themes? Should such programming be rated differently or contain relevant descriptions so that parents can make informed decisions?”

The agency is also seeking public input on potential disparities in ratings for different platforms, and in particular whether streaming services are “more broadly interpreting what is allowable in categories intended for audiences under TV- Y14.”

The gender-focused inquiry, widely seen as part of the administration’s larger efforts to police gender identity, is the latest move by the FCC, under Carr to threaten freedom of speech limitations on broadcasters. In March, Carr threatened on X that he might cancel the spectrum permits of broadcasters pushing what he called “hoaxes and news distortions” over the war in Iran. “Broadcasters must operate in the public interest, and they will lose their licenses if they do not,” Carr wrote, echoing comments he has made previously. He also copied a Truth Social post by Trump complaining about “misleading” coverage on the war in Iran.

The widely shared threats drew condemnation from congressional Democrats as well as the Republican senator Ron Johnson, who voiced his support of press freedom and said: “I do not like the heavy hand of government, no matter who’s wielding it.”

This was not the first time Carr’s proposed interventions drew widespread outcry. In September 2025, Carr courted bipartisan backlash after he pressured television networks and broadcasting syndicates to “take action” against ABC’s late-night host Jimmy Kimmel over his comments about the slain rightwing activist Charlie Kirk. “We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” Carr said.

Nexstar and Sinclair, two major carriers of ABC programming, quickly announced plans to pre-empt Kimmel’s show, forcing ABC to put it on temporary hiatus. After public backlash, ABC decided to bring Kimmel back the following week, and both Nexstar and Sinclair followed suit. Carr later claimed that he never “threatened” networks.

Public comments for the new FCC inquiry into ratings are due on 22 May, and reply comments a month later.