Competing Visions of Social Engineering: Trump Ends Biden's Digital Equity Act for Internet Access
Oluwatoyin Adepoju
President Donald Trump announced he is ending the Biden-era Digital Equity Act, calling the $2.75 billion program "unconstitutional, racist and illegal" in a post on Truth Social after consulting with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. The program, established under the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, was designed to provide digital skills training and expand internet access in underserved communities.
The Digital Equity Act provided $2.75 billion for three grant programs designed to ensure all communities could access affordable, reliable high-speed internet12. The funding was allocated to tackle barriers to broadband adoption that persist even after infrastructure is deployed, such as digital skills training, affordable devices, and familiarity with online services2. By May 2025, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) had already recommended 65 municipalities, universities, and nonprofits for $619 million in grant funding under the Biden administration2.
Trump's termination of the program has sparked immediate criticism from digital inclusion advocates. The National Digital Inclusion Alliance pointed out that their shovel-ready project alone would have served over 30,000 people in the next five years2. The Leadership Conference's Center for Civil Rights and Technology condemned the decision, stating that the administration was "abandoning their responsibility to the more than 24 million people who lack access to quality broadband in the United States, including veterans, people who live in rural areas and on tribal lands, communities of color, and low-income individuals"3. Critics also expressed concern that the administration appears poised to redirect broadband funding toward a "$20 billion-dollar giveaway for Elon Musk's Starlink"34.
Civil rights organizations have strongly condemned Trump's decision to terminate the Digital Equity Act. The Leadership Conference's Center for Civil Rights and Technology called the move an abandonment of responsibility to the more than 24 million Americans lacking quality broadband access, including veterans, rural communities, tribal lands residents, communities of color, and low-income individuals1.
The cancellation threatens to undo significant progress in bridging the digital divide. Digital equity advocates argue that the program is essential for ensuring all Americans can access healthcare, education, banking, and employment opportunities in an increasingly digital society23. Critics of Trump's decision also note that his administration appears to be redirecting broadband funding toward a "$20 billion-dollar giveaway for Elon Musk's Starlink," which they claim offers internet that is "neither affordable nor reliable"1. This comes at a particularly vulnerable time, as the Affordable Connectivity Program, which provided monthly internet bill discounts to over 23 million households, has already run out of funding45.
Report from Perplexity AI
The reference nos link to news sources used in composing the report
Howard Lutnick was confirmed as the 41st United States Secretary of Commerce on February 18, 2025, in a Senate vote of 51-4512. As Commerce Secretary, Lutnick oversees approximately 47,000-50,000 employees across various functions including economic statistics, census operations, and weather forecasting31. His primary focus, however, has been implementing President Trump's aggressive trade agenda, particularly the administration's tariff policies which he vigorously defended during his confirmation hearing, dismissing as "nonsense" the idea that tariffs contribute to inflation1.
Since taking office, Lutnick has made significant policy changes, including launching a "rigorous review" of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, which he criticized as hampered by "woke mandates" from the Biden administration45. He has committed to maintaining a "tech-neutral approach" to broadband deployment while promising to cut "government red tape"4. Lutnick also plays a crucial role in U.S.-China relations, particularly regarding semiconductor and artificial intelligence competition, and has pledged to uphold the agency's core functions including disbursing funding under the 2022 CHIPS Act, though with potential modifications to Biden-era requirements36.
