The Digester

FCC chair urges broadcasters to air Pledge and national anthem daily for America's 250th

Feb 22nd 2026

FCC Chair Brendan Carr launched the Pledge America Campaign asking stations to air patriotic programming, including starting each broadcast day with the Star Spangled Banner or the Pledge of Allegiance, ahead of the nation's 250th anniversary.

  • Brendan Carr, a Trump appointee, announced the voluntary Pledge America Campaign on Friday.
  • He suggested broadcasters start each broadcast day with the Star Spangled Banner or the Pledge of Allegiance and run PSAs, history segments, and patriotic music.
  • The campaign is voluntary and stations can opt in to highlight relevant programming in their local markets.
  • The FCC under Carr has recently clashed with networks over programming decisions and issued new guidance affecting equal time rules for talk shows.
  • That guidance has prompted investigations and led some shows to drop or move interviews with political candidates from broadcast airings.

Sources

ew.com