Trump Picks Senate Armed Services' Trusty for FCC; Roth NTIA Administrator Nod Soon
President-elect Donald Trump said Thursday he plans to nominate Senate Armed Services Committee Republican staffer Olivia Trusty to the FCC seat that current Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel will vacate Jan. 20. Multiple former FCC officials and communications sector lobbyists told us they expected Trump would also announce as soon as Thursday that Senate Commerce Committee Republican Telecom Policy Director Arielle Roth is his pick for NTIA administrator. A range of ex-FCC officials and other observers previously named Trusty and Roth as top contenders for the Rosenworcel seat, although some believed Roth’s ties to Senate Commerce Chairman Ted Cruz, R-Texas, made her a slight front-runner (see 2412110046).
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Trusty “will work with our incredible” incoming FCC Chairman Brendan Carr “to cut regulations at a record pace, protect Free Speech, and ensure every American has access to affordable and fast Internet,” Trump said in a Truth Social post. He misidentified Trusty's current position as a Senate Commerce Committee aide. She was previously Senate Commerce’s Republican telecom policy director before moving to Armed Services when Roger Wicker of Mississippi took over as that panel’s lead Republican. Trusty was also previously a House Commerce Committee aide and worked for the policy shops at Qwest and Verizon.
Cruz, Wicker, Senate Armed Services and Senate Commerce didn’t immediately comment. Wicker endorsed Trusty in November for the Rosenworcel seat (see 2411220045). Ex-FCC officials and other observers saw Trusty as a potential FCC candidate in 2020 when Trump revoked then-Commissioner Mike O’Rielly’s renomination (see 2009090001). Wicker touted her as a potential Republican FTC nominee in 2022 (see 2209130065).
Carr congratulated Trusty on the impending nomination. Trusty “has had a distinguished career already on Capitol Hill and in the private sector,” he said in a statement. “Her extensive knowledge, public sector experience, and keen intellect will serve her well at the agency. I look forward to welcoming her to the FCC as a colleague and to working together to deliver great results for the American people.” USTelecom CEO Jonathan Spalter predicted Trusty “will be a principled and deeply knowledgeable advocate for our nation’s broadband future at the FCC.” Wireless ISP Association CEO David Zumwalt said in a statement that Trusty’s “broad experience in both government and the private sector, combined with her regulatory restraint, will work to foster renewed growth in the broadband sector, ultimately helping to bring more services at lower prices to U.S. consumers.”
Carr praised Cruz earlier Thursday during a Wireless Infrastructure Association event, days after Carr’s office denied rumors that the two were in conflict over a potential Roth FCC nomination (see 2501100043). Cruz “will be a strong and important leader” on revamping the Universal Service Fund, spectrum legislation and tech issues, Carr told WIA participants (see 2501160035). “I look forward to following his lead on these core important issues.”
Telecom lobbyists said Trump plans to name Roth as NTIA administrator as part of a deal to assuage Cruz over not nominating her for Rosenworcel's seat, but they emphasized she has been a top contender to lead the Commerce Department agency since Trump won a second term in November. Roth was previously a legislative aide to former Senate Commerce member Roy Blunt, R-Mo., O’Rielly’s wireline adviser and a Wireline Bureau legal adviser. She also had stints at the Hudson Institute and Federalist Society.