President Trump ripped former President Biden's high-speed internet program on Thursday, vowing to end what he called a "racist" and "illegal" initiative.
Trump said he spoke with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick about the Biden-era Digital Equity Act, which allocated about $2.75 billion for programs that provide technology, including the internet, and skills for all Americans.
"We [Trump and Lutnick] agree that the Biden/Harris so-called “Digital Equity Act” is totally UNCONSTITUTIONAL," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post Thursday. "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!"
Biden signed the Digital Equity Act was signed into law in 2021 as part of a $1 trillion infrastructure package to further the former administration's "internet for all" initiative. It set aside about $60 million for grants to states and territories to come up with ways to improve access to technology, along with another $2.5 billion to implement the plans.
The Trump administration has worked to roll back several diversity, equity and inclusion programs. The internet for all program was intended to apply to a variety of groups.
Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), the original author of the Digital Equity Act, swiped back at Trump's post, writing in a statement, "As usual the President has no idea what he's talking about."
"I wrote the Digital Equity Act to help close the digital divide in America—it’s about making sure seniors can get online and equipping every student in every classroom with the tools they need to succeed, whether that’s a hotspot to take home or a laptop," Murray wrote.
"My law provides maximal flexibility to cities, states, and Tribes so every local community can decide for themselves how they invest Digital Equity dollars—that’s why it passed with overwhelming bipartisan support," she continued.
The grants were appropriated through Congress and their potential cancellation is likely to face legal challenges. Murray argued Trump would be "stealing from the American people" should he refuse to spend the appropriated funding.
“It is absolutely insane that resources meant to help red and blue communities—everyone from local school districts and libraries to workforce training programs and Tribes—close the digital divide will be illegally blocked because the President doesn’t like the word equity," Murray continued.
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