The Digital Equity Act, designed to bridge the digital divide through programs providing internet access and resources, may be terminated by Trump, who labels it as racist and illegal. Established under the Biden administration, the Act allocated significant funding to support underserved communities in accessing technology, including training for older adults and tools for children in rural areas. The future of these programs is uncertain as the Trump administration may choose to withdraw ongoing funding despite potential legal challenges regarding the termination of the Act.
One program distributes laptops in rural Iowa. Another helped people get back online after Hurricane Helene washed away computers and phones in western North Carolina.
It all came crashing down this month when President Donald Trump announced his intention to end the Digital Equity Act, a federal grant program meant to help bridge the digital divide.
Though the program was actually funded with $2.75 billion, Trump branded it as a $2.5 billion giveaway and termed the initiative RACIST and ILLEGAL.
I just felt my heart break for what we were finally, finally in this country, going to address, the digital divide, said Angela Siefer, executive director of the National Digital Inclusion Alliance.
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