One Year Without the Digital Equity Act

May 8, 2026, marked one year since President Donald Trump terminated the grants made under the Digital Equity Act. The Digital Equity Act, part of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA), is a landmark piece of legislation that primed all 50 states and U.S. territories to implement programs to improve digital literacy, improve access to affordable internet-connected devices, provide technical support, and increase awareness of privacy and cybersecurity. One year ago, President Donald Trump shared via Truth Social that he and U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick were determined to bring an end to the Digital Equity Act and its “unconstitutional” and “illegal” programs. In the past week, lawmakers, public advocates, and practitioners have spoken out—most prominently through a May 14 press conference hosted by the Hispanic Tech and Telecom Partnerships (HTTP), the Hispanic Federation, the National Urban League, Public Knowledge, and the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA)—about the costs of terminating the Digital Equity Act and the repercussions for U.S. residents struggling to get and stay online. The conversation centered around what the Digital Equity Act was, what programs were lost, and who has been most affected by the loss of the $2.75 billion effort to connect the unconnected.