Days after a contentious ownership deregulation vote split the FCC along party lines, the commission’s Republican majority could soon grow by one. President Donald Trump has picked Danielle Thumann Severs, a senior counsel to Chairman Brendan Carr, to fill one of two open commissioner seats.
Thumann Severs currently advises Carr on matters before the Wireline Bureau, the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau and the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau.
After earning a J.D. cum laude from the Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia, she worked as an associate attorney at Wilkinson Barker Knauer in Washington, DC, before moving to Carr’s office in March 2021 as a legal advisor until 2023.
She rejoined Carr’s office in August 2024 after a year in the private sector handling state and local government relations for a telecommunications infrastructure provider. Of her nomination, Carr posted, “Danielle is a dedicated public servant and has consistently delivered policy wins from bridging the digital divide and protecting consumers to advancing public safety.”
Thumann Severs has also been a regular speaker on the Federalist Society’s Telecommunications and Electronic Media Practice Group panels dating back to at least 2018, and is listed among affiliated attorneys of the Republican National Lawyers Association.
According to a White House filing sent to the Senate, her term is five years as of July 1, 2024. Confirming Thumann Severs would fill one of two seats left vacant since Republican Nathan Simington and Democrat Geoffrey Starks both departed the Commission in June 2025, bringing Carr’s Republican bloc to the three-seat maximum allowed by law.
It could also create a possible avenue to evict lone Democratic commissioner Anna Gomez without disrupting the three-person quorum needed for Commission operations.
Gomez’s term as commissioner expired June 30. Under the Communications Act, Gomez remains at the FCC in holdover status until a Democratic successor is seated or she is renominated for a new term, a renomination many consider unlikely given her sustained public criticism of Trump and Carr’s investigations into broadcasters.
However, given the Supreme Court ruling in Trump v. Slaughter that the president can remove independent agency commissioners without cause, that could mean Gomez’s voice of dissent on issues like public interest, the First Amendment, and consolidation could be removed from the Commission at any time.
Gomez’s own reaction may give confidence to the contrary, though, posting, “Congratulations to Danielle on her nomination to the FCC. Serving on this Commission is one of the most rewarding jobs in government. I look forward to continuing our work together, hopefully soon with a full Commission of five, the way this agency was built to operate.”
NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt said, “NAB congratulates Danielle Thumann Severs on her nomination to the FCC. Danielle is a dedicated public servant who is well regarded across all sectors of the communications bar. Her extensive experience at the Commission and deep understanding of communications policy will serve her well in this important role. We look forward to working with her throughout the confirmation process and, if confirmed, as a commissioner.”
