When Nathan Simington, a former FCC Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission announced his abrupt resignation on June 5, 2025, he quickly made clear who he wanted to see seated in his vacated slot. In a candid interview with the New York Post on June 7, he said he would be "delighted" to see his 31‑year‑old chief of staff, Gavin Wax, nominated to the open FCC commissioner seat.

Background on Simington’s Tenure

Simington, a Republican appointed by Donald Trump during his first term, entered the commission in 2020 after a surprise selection that even he described as "not on anybody's short list." His five‑year stint was marked by a steady, if unspectacular, push for deregulation of broadband rules and a focus on expanding rural service. When asked whether his own appointment had been a product of political opportunism, Simington admitted, "Sometimes the president has amazing ideas that don’t fit the usual Beltway playbook."

Wax’s Rapid Rise and Controversy

Wax joined Simington’s office in late April 2025 as a senior advisor, having spent most of his career in partisan politics. Before that, he led the New York Young Republican Club and worked as a campaign aide for several Trump‑aligned candidates. In barely two months, he moved from the hallway of the FCC’s 45 L Street NE headquarters to the senior staff badge, a trajectory that drew eyebrows from both regulators and watchdog groups.

Critics were quick to label Wax an "unqualified right‑wing zealot." Citizens for Ethics published a report suggesting Wax may have breached the Hatch Act by engaging in overtly partisan activity while on agency time. The report cited three instances where Wax allegedly used official FCC email accounts to solicit support for Trump‑aligned donors. Though a recent policy change limits enforcement against former employees, the allegations, according to ethics experts, "should preclude his nomination to the role of Commissioner."

Despite the pushback, Simington remained steadfast. "I’ve had a fairly successful term," he said, "and I think the president’s creativity in picking outsiders could be a good thing for the commission."

Other Candidates and Political Calculus

Simington’s endorsement did not happen in a vacuum. Inside the GOP, several names were floating for the seat:

• Adam Candeub – FCC General Counsel, touted by Chairman Brendan Carr as a natural successor.
• Robin Colwell – Deputy Director of the National Economic Council.
• Adam Cassady – Deputy Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).
• Arielle Roth – Nominee for NTIA Administrator.

The slate reflected a classic split: career telecom regulators versus political operatives. While Carr pushed Candeub, Simington’s public push for Wax signaled an attempt to tilt the balance toward a more ideologically driven nominee.

Senate Moves and Quorum Concerns

Complicating the drama, the Senate had already confirmed Olivia Trusty as the other Republican commissioner in June 2025. Trusty’s confirmation restored the required three‑member quorum for the FCC, but Simington’s seat remained empty, leaving the agency with a fragile 2‑1 partisan split.

Inside sources told Inside Towers that senators were debating whether to expedite Trusty’s vote before the commission’s June 26 meeting. The goal: ensure a quorum for a crucial vote on the upcoming broadband modernization rule. As the debate unfolded, Simington’s endorsement of Wax added a new variable, prompting some lawmakers to ask, "Do we want a commissioner with two months of telecom experience?"

Wax’s Shift to the State Department

By late August, the buzz around Wax’s potential nomination had faded. On August 26, 2025, Wax announced via LinkedIn that he was moving to the State Department as chief of staff for acting Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Darren Beattie. In his post, Wax wrote that his new role would involve "shaping global perceptions of U.S. policies and values through strategic communication efforts." The announcement was accompanied by a joint interview with The Blaze’s Glenn Beck, further underscoring Wax’s continuing alignment with the Trump‑era media ecosystem.

Former White House strategist Steve Bannon had publicly backed Wax’s FCC bid earlier in the summer, calling him "the fresh‑blood the commission needs." With Wax’s departure, that particular endorsement lost immediate relevance, but it highlighted how deeply intertwined the nomination fight was with broader right‑wing networking.

Despite Wax’s exit, Simington’s seat remained vacant through the end of 2025, a lingering reminder that the commission’s composition could still shift dramatically depending on the president’s next pick.

What This Means for FCC Policy

The episode underscores a larger trend: presidents increasingly favor political outsiders over seasoned regulators when filling FCC seats. If a future nominee follows Wax’s playbook—short tenure, strong partisan ties, and a background in political campaigning—policy outcomes could tilt toward more aggressive deregulation, especially in areas like net neutrality and spectrum auctions.

For consumers, the stakes are concrete. A commissioner with limited technical knowledge may rely heavily on industry lobbyists, potentially weakening consumer protections. Conversely, a politically savvy nominee could accelerate projects that the administration deems essential for national security, such as expanding 5G in rural America.

Analysts at Techdirt warn that the "right‑wing zealot" label, while colorful, masks a real risk: the FCC could become a venue for partisan messaging rather than a technocratic regulator. The next presidential pick—whenever that occurs—will either reinforce that trajectory or steer the commission back toward a more balanced, expertise‑driven approach.