128 In a move that has stunned broadband advocates and local leaders across the country, President Donald Trump has officially dismantled the Digital Equity Act, a cornerstone of the Biden administration’s plan to expand internet access in underserved communities. The president made the announcement Thursday on his social media platform, Truth Social, declaring the program unconstitutional and characterizing it as a “racist handout.” His message read in part, “No more woke handouts based on race! The Digital Equity Program is a RACIST and ILLEGAL $2.5 BILLION DOLLAR giveaway. I am ending this IMMEDIATELY and saving taxpayers BILLIONS OF DOLLARS!” Despite Trump’s claim, the law did not distribute funds based on race. In fact, the legislation prohibited discrimination entirely, stating that eligibility for internet access improvements could not be denied on the basis of race, gender, national origin, religion, disability, or sexual orientation. These protections mirrored long-standing language from the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Digital Equity Act was created to address one of the nation’s most persistent challenges — the digital divide. Millions of Americans in rural and low-income areas, including those who voted overwhelmingly for Trump, lack access to reliable, high-speed internet. This barrier affects everything from children’s education to employment opportunities and access to healthcare. What makes the president’s decision especially controversial is that the program had already started rolling out in deep-red states. Alabama, Indiana, Kansas, Arkansas, and Iowa had all received federal grants under the initiative to create and implement digital access plans. In many of these areas, local leaders praised the funding as a long-overdue lifeline. Read Also: Trump and Musk “Should Be Arrested,” Says Furious Maryland Congressman Now, with Trump’s abrupt cancellation of the program, those plans are in limbo — and communities may be left behind once again. “I’m trying to understand how expanding internet to poor areas became a political wedge issue,” said Mary Collins, a broadband coordinator in southern Indiana. “We’re not talking about luxury here. We’re talking about kids trying to do their homework and seniors accessing telehealth.” The Biden-era program was designed to ensure that high-speed internet was not a privilege reserved for the affluent or urban. It targeted systemic barriers that had historically left entire regions without reliable service. Trump’s decision to frame the program as a racial giveaway not only misrepresents its content but also may undermine future bipartisan efforts to address the digital divide. Digital infrastructure advocates argue that internet access today is as essential as electricity or clean water — a necessity for full participation in the modern economy. While Trump has yet to provide an alternative proposal to address rural broadband, his administration insists that any future plans will avoid “woke ideology” and prioritize what it calls “American values.” But with the clock ticking on many state-level broadband projects, it remains unclear how communities will cope with the sudden loss of federal support. For now, local leaders are left with more questions than answers. And for millions of Americans in forgotten ZIP codes, the dream of equitable internet access just slipped a little further out of reach. You may also like “The Art of the Deal”: Trump Privately Admits... May 11, 2025 New York Is About to Hand Power Back... May 11, 2025 “$1 Billion in Just 3 Months”: While America... May 10, 2025 “I voted for Trump 2 times, Then He... May 10, 2025