Three Democratic U.S. senators urge the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to prevent the Paramount–Warner Bros. Discovery merger from closing while a government review of foreign ownership concerns is pending. In a letter dated June 18 to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, Sens. Cory Booker, Adam Schiff, and Elizabeth Warren say the commission should pause the transaction due to potential national security implications tied to foreign investors involved in the deal. The lawmakers argue the FCC has an obligation to ensure that any relevant foreign ownership or national security assessments are completed before the merger is finalized.
Multiple outlets report that the senators’ request centers on delaying closing until the foreign investment or ownership review concludes. One outlet specifies a July 1 date referenced by the senators, while other coverage describes the demand more generally as waiting for the review to run its course.
The proposed merger is reported as a large transaction, described in at least one outlet as a $111 billion deal. The outlets agree on the parties involved in the letter, the request to block closing, and the reason given: ensuring the foreign-investment review is completed before final FCC action.
