FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks. Photo: FCC

Democratic FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks plans to resign from his seat on the commission this spring, Starks said in a statement on Tuesday. Starks did not provide a reason for his departure, but said he sent a letter to President Trump and Sen. Chuck Schumer, minority leader of the Senate. 

“Serving the American people as a commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission has been the honor of my life,” Starks said. “With my extraordinary fellow Commissioners and the incredible career staff at the agency, we have worked hard to connect all Americans, promote innovation, protect consumers, and ensure national security.” 

Starks has been an FCC commissioner since 2018, when he was nominated by Trump during Trump’s first term to succeed Mignon Clyburn. Starks is currently serving a term that expires on July 1, 2027. 

Starks is one of two Democratic FCC commissioners, along with Anna Gomez. His departure creates a vacancy for a Democratic seat on the FCC. By statute, the FCC is to have five commissioners — two from the minority party in Congress and three representing the majority party.

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr thanked Starks for his public service in a statement on Tuesday. 

“Commissioner Starks led many of the FCC’s national security initiatives, and I welcomed the chance to work closely with him on important matters, including promoting new innovations, protecting consumers, and bringing families across the digital divide. Commissioner Starks put in the work and leaves an impressive legacy of accomplishments in public service. I always learned a lot from him and benefited from the many events we held together,” Carr said. 

Starks previously helped lead the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau and worked at the Department of Justice, serving as a senior advisor to the Deputy Attorney General.