DoJ Ruling Could Impact Who Qualifies for Lifeline
On May 28, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel issued a "slip opinion" concluding that the Federal Communications Commission's Lifeline program—which helps low-income consumers pay for phone and broadband internet service—must comply with a 1996 federal welfare law that limits certain government benefits to U.S. citizens and specific categories of lawfully present non-citizens. The opinion also concludes that the FCC's current enrollment process does not adequately verify immigration status.