The pending merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media was formally approved by the Trump administration on Thursday, concluding months of regulatory uncertainty.

The deal opens the door to major changes at CBS News, with FCC Chairman Brendan Carr saying, "Americans no longer trust the legacy national news media to report fully, accurately, and fairly. It is time for a change.

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr praised Skydance Media’s commitment to hire an ombudsman for CBS News after it completes its merger with Paramount Global. The commitment was outlined in a filing with the FCC this week.

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said Thursday he was “pleased” with commitments from Skydance Media to reform CBS, as the agency nears a decision on the $8 billion Paramount merger. Skydance submitted a letter this week pledging to hire an ombudsman to address complaints of media bias and to present “a diversity of viewpoints” on CBS

Liberal lawmakers asked David Ellison, chief executive of Skydance Media, which is set to merge with CBS owner Paramount, about alleged promises on conservative ad content.

CBS News has been dogged for decades by allegations of liberal bias, with the controversies over its coverage decisions intensifying over the last year.

More than a year after Skydance Media and its partners clinched a deal with Shari Redstone and Paramount Global to merge the companies, the FCC has yet to act on an application to approve the transfer of CBS licenses to the new ownership.

Skydance's CEO told the FCC this week that CBS would reflect "varied ideological perspectives" of U.S. viewers, while touting "American storytelling."