In a move that has sparked considerable backlash, the Trump administration has abruptly ended the Digital Equity Capacity Program, which was designed to boost internet literacy and access across Illinois. The state's Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity was rolling out a significant Digital Equity Capacity Grant, funded by over $23.7 million, to support local organizations in providing the necessary tools and training for high-speed internet usage, according to the State of Illinois. This cancellation has left stakeholders and intended beneficiaries reeling from the sudden policy shift.
"The internet is a key to our economy. In Illinois, we need to make sure our many rural areas have the tools they need to access the internet and the doorways it opens for jobs, education, and telemedicine," Governor JB Pritzker said, as per the State of Illinois. Governor Juliana Stratton echoed this sentiment, criticizing the Trump administration for what she described as leading with chaos and undermining initiatives aimed at closing the digital divide.
The terminated programs, which were a part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, sought to address disparities in digital access, particularly the 10 million Illinoisians facing lower rates of computer and internet access. These programs were essential in distributing electronic devices, conducting training, and fostering digital literacy in areas where such resources are scarce. In an Illinois-wide internet use phone survey, at least 1.3 million residents across approximately 540,000 households reported low digital literacy skills, spotlighting the pressing need for the programs that were to be funded by the grant.
"Because of the Trump Administration's spiteful crusade to gut critical government programs, Illinoisans will lose the internet access that allows them to speak with their doctor, complete homework assignments, or pay their bills," U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) told State of Illinois. U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) criticized the termination of the grant as another way the Trump administration is harming Illinois families, depriving them of essential resources for participating in today's digital economy. Accordingly, Duckworth pledged to work alongside Governor Pritzker and the DCEO to counter the president's actions.
Before its cancellation, the grant program had received over 260 applications, signalling the high demand for such assistance across the state. The Illinois Digital Equity Capacity Kickstarter (DECK) program had even provided state funding to help partners prepare for the rollout of the Digital Equity Act program. DECK recipients had already made considerable headway, with partners hosting thousands of digital skills training classes and distributing devices to those in need. "Everyone deserves access to reliable internet and the skills to use it to improve their lives. It's a 'must' to live and fully participate in the world today," Carlinville Public Library Director Hannah Miller expressed to State of Illinois.
