May 2025

On Friday, May 9, 2025, the Trump Administration began notifying states that their Digital Equity Act Capacity Grant funds were terminated. The day prior, President Donald Trump shared via Truth Social that he and U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick are determined to bring an end to the Digital Equity Act and its “unconstitutional” and “illegal” programs. In 2021, Congress included the Digital Equity Act in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to give U.S.

The House Commerce Committee rejected an amendment to revive the Affordable Connectivity Program, with funds coming from proceeds from future Federal Communications Commission spectrum auctions. Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), sponsor of the amendment, was not specific about the amount of money she wanted in describing her amendment, which was defeated (24 yeas, 29 nays) in a party line vote. “Funding to make broadband affordable is needed now, perhaps more than ever,” Rep. Clarke said.

President Donald Trump called a Biden-era law to expand high-speed internet access "racist" and "illegal." We asked the White House and federal departments involved in the program for evidence to support Trump’s statement and received no reply.