Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios
FCC commissioner Nathan Simington said Wednesday that he will leave the agency at the end of the week.
Why it matters: The Republican's departure means just FCC chair Brendan Carr and Democratic commissioner Anna Gomez remain.
- The 1934 Communications Act establishes the FCC's quorum as three members, regardless of party affiliation.
Democratic commissioner Geoffrey Starks, who shared earlier this year that he would retire in the spring, also announced Wednesday that his last day will be the end of this week.
The big picture: While the FCC is an independent agency under the law responsible to Congress, Carr's moves since becoming chair show he's in clear lockstep with President Trump.
What's next: Olivia Trusty's nomination is ready for Senate floor after advancing out of the Commerce Committee in April.
- Trusty, a longtime Republican Hill staffer, is expected to be confirmed easily, and would boost the slate of commissioners to three.
- Trump could nominate others to fill the new openings, or no one at all, but no more than three members of the five can be from the same political party.
