Judge Won’t Pause Suit Over Trump’s $2.75 Billion Digital Equity Act Cuts

U.S. District Judge John Bates declined to pause litigation over the Trump administration's termination of up to $2.75 billion in digital literacy and upskilling grants, rejecting arguments that a parallel case could clarify key legal issues. The plaintiff representing affected grantees, the National Digital Inclusion Alliance, moved on March 25 to stay the case, contending that a forthcoming decision in Climate United Fund v. Citibank could resolve overlapping jurisdictional questions and help avoid duplicative litigation. The court disagreed, finding the cases materially distinct. In an order, Judge Bates wrote, “This Court is unconvinced that a stay is warranted,” adding that NDIA had “failed to show that the jurisdictional issues presented in this case necessarily overlap” with those in Climate United.