The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is asking a federal judge to throw out a lawsuit brought by Disney and its broadcast network ABC. The lawsuit challenges the FCC’s decision to begin the early renewal of licenses for several of ABC’s local stations. In a court document released on Thursday, the FCC’s lawyers said the lawsuit is too soon and could interfere with an investigation into Disney’s hiring practices related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). The FCC described this investigation as essential to ensuring that media companies are serving the public interest. Disney argues that the FCC is trying to limit its First Amendment rights by targeting the content that ABC broadcasts. In its court filing, the FCC countered that Disney’s lawsuit would only prevent the agency from looking into claims that the company may have violated anti-discrimination laws. The FCC also said that Disney is trying to avoid the responsibility of proving its case in a formal administrative process. The dispute began last month when the FCC started the license renewal process for ABC’s stations in major cities, a move that surprised many in the media and some Democratic lawmakers. Disney’s lawsuit was filed after months of tension between the Trump administration and one of the nation’s largest broadcasters. In its complaint, Disney said the FCC under President Trump has sent a message to media companies that they must only broadcast stories that align with the administration’s views or risk government action. The company warned that in such a scenario, the press could no longer be considered free. It also criticized FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, who has often criticized mainstream media and has called for the dismissal of ABC’s late-night host Jimmy Kimmel for jokes about the president and a conservative activist. FCC Chair Brendan Carr has questioned whether ABC is using its broadcast licenses, which are granted by the government, in the public interest. He has also pledged to investigate how major media companies handle DEI initiatives. In its court filing, the FCC emphasized that broadcasters like Disney are highly regulated and have exclusive access to valuable public resources — the electromagnetic spectrum used for broadcasting. The agency said the public interest clearly supports its ongoing investigation into Disney’s practices.