A court forced the Trump administration to reinstate the Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program, which allocates $1.25 billion for broadband access, after the NDIA sued over its abrupt cancellation. However, the judge ruled that grant allocations cannot consider race or ethnicity, though income, age, and disability remain valid criteria. Applications are expected to open in December, but a separate $1.44 billion state grant program appears permanently defunct.
Background
The Digital Equity Act of 2021 authorized $2.75 billion to close broadband access gaps, with the Biden administration actively distributing funds before Trump's 2025 cancellation. This case highlights the ongoing tension between executive policy shifts and judicial oversight on federal spending programs.
- Source
- Ars Technica
- Published
- Aug 5, 2026 at 05:27 AM
- Score
- 7.0 / 10