• Trump labels Biden's Digital Equity Act as 'racist' and 'unconstitutional,' threatening to end it.
• The Act aims to expand high-speed internet access to underserved communities, including racial minorities, veterans, and rural areas.
• Trump's stance could lead to legal challenges if he attempts to cancel the grants already approved and disbursed.

Former President Donald Trump has publicly criticized President Joe Biden's Digital Equity Act, claiming it is 'racist' and 'unconstitutional'. The Act, a component of the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill, seeks to improve high-speed internet access in communities with poor connectivity, including racial minorities, veterans, older people, disabled and rural communities. Trump's attack focused on the Act's mention of racial minorities, despite its nondiscrimination clause. His threat to end the program raises questions about the future of grants already allocated to states and the potential for legal challenges.

• What: Donald Trump attacked the Digital Equity Act, calling it 'racist' and 'unconstitutional' and threatening to end it. The Act aims to improve high-speed internet access in underserved communities.
• Who: Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Senator Patty Murray, ethnic and racial minorities, veterans, older people and disabled and rural communities.
• When: Trump's statement was made on Thursday. The Act was signed into law early in Biden's presidency. Hundreds of millions of dollars in additional funding were approved by the Biden administration in the weeks before Mr. Trump took office.
• Where: The Digital Equity Act impacts states and territories across the US, including red states like Indiana, Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa and Kansas.

Trump's attack on the Digital Equity Act highlights a stark division in political ideology and priorities. His claims of racism and unconstitutionality appear to be based on the Act's inclusion of racial minorities as one of the groups it aims to assist. This is despite the Act's broad scope and nondiscrimination clause which explicitly prohibits exclusion based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, or disability. Trump's threat to end the program could face legal challenges, particularly given that funds have already been allocated to several states.

Trump's attack on the Digital Equity Act, labeling it "racist" and "unconstitutional," signals a determined effort to dismantle a key component of Biden's infrastructure initiatives aimed at bridging the digital divide. This move introduces substantial uncertainty regarding the Act's future and the allocation of funds already designated for states. With Trump's administration expressing agreement with his stance, the program's cancellation appears imminent, potentially diverting funds towards initiatives like Starlink. Should Trump proceed unilaterally, legal challenges are highly probable, potentially finding support from rulings against similar executive actions that undermine congressional intent and established procedures. The consequences of dismantling the DEA extend beyond funding, possibly hindering efforts to promote digital inclusion for vulnerable groups, including veterans, rural communities, and racial minorities. This action could impede access to essential services like telehealth, digital skills training and affordable internet, exacerbating existing disparities. Conversely, the administration argues that these changes aim to eliminate "race-based mandates" and ensure efficient allocation of resources, although critics suggest that the DEA barely mentions race and includes a nondiscrimination clause. The clash between the administration's stance and the Act's bipartisan support in Congress sets the stage for contentious legal and political battles, with the future of digital equity hanging in the balance.