FCC Chair Urges Broadcasters to Air 'Pledge America' Programming
FCC Chair Brendan Carr announced a voluntary 'Pledge America Campaign' urging broadcasters to air patriotic programming tied to the Salute to America 250 and the 2026 commemoration.
Overview
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced a voluntary 'Pledge America Campaign' asking broadcasters to air patriotic, pro-America programming in support of the Salute to America 250 Task Force.
Carr tied the initiative to President Trump's Salute to America 250 and cited a White House plan for events from Memorial Day, 2025 through July 4, 2026.
The FCC said participation is voluntary, but Carr suggested taking the pledge could meet public-interest obligations, and his recent actions include an investigation into The View and threats over news distortion.
Several large media groups are already planning 250th programming, with Nexstar operating more than 200 stations in 116 markets and E.W. Scripps owning more than 60 local stations in over 40 markets.
The FCC suggested options such as starting broadcasts with the Star-Spangled Banner or Pledge of Allegiance, daily 'Today in American History' segments, and music by composers like Sousa, Gershwin, Ellington and Copland.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the FCC request skeptically by emphasizing partisan links and coercion: noting ties to Trump’s 'Salute to America 250,' highlighting an outdated White House quote, and stressing Carr's prior threats to stations. Language choices ('touting,' 'notable') and selective emphasis on timing and obligations cast the appeal as politicized rather than neutral.
Sources (3)
FAQ
The Salute to America 250 Task Force (Task Force 250) was created by Executive Order on January 29, 2025, by President Trump to plan and execute celebrations for the 250th anniversary of American Independence from Memorial Day 2025 through July 4, 2026.
The FCC suggests options like starting broadcasts with the Star-Spangled Banner or Pledge of Allegiance, daily 'Today in American History' segments, and music by composers such as Sousa, Gershwin, Ellington, and Copland.
No, participation in the Pledge America Campaign is voluntary, though FCC Chair Carr suggested it could help meet public-interest obligations.
Nexstar, operating over 200 stations in 116 markets, and E.W. Scripps, owning more than 60 local stations in over 40 markets, are planning 250th programming.
Key events include a Great American State Fair at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, Patriot Games for high-school athletes, a National Garden of American Heroes, and a capstone fireworks celebration on July 4, 2026.
History
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