Federal court permits suit on Trump-halted Digital Equity Act to proceed

WASHINGTON – Following a July 15 decision by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, the Digital Equity Act (DEA) Competitive Grant Program is set to resume, but without a key provision that addresses racial disparities in internet access. The $2.75 billion DEA, a congressionally authorized program from the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, was designed to close the digital divide by establishing grants to support broadband access and digital skills training for underserved communities. The National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) lawsuit, filed on October 7, 2025, challenged the cancellation of the DEA Competitive Grant Program, one of the three DEA programs cancelled by President Trump on May 9, 2025. ALA joined an amicus brief in support of NDIA’s lawsuit, which will proceed until the government fulfills its commitment to resume the program. 

ALA President Maria McCauley said, "As community hubs of digital services and training, libraries nationwide spent precious resources and staff time applying for grants in coalition with other community anchor institutions. Thanks to legal intervention by NDIA, America gets another shot at a once-in-a-generation investment in digital opportunity for all. If the government makes good on its promise to reinstate the Digital Equity Act, millions will get the tools and support they need to catch up in our rapidly evolving digital world.    

“ALA is profoundly disappointed in the court's decision to exclude racial and ethnic minorities as a designated 'covered population' in grantmaking. That exclusion undermines the expansive equity Congress had in mind when they created the Digital Equity Act in 2021. As the work of closing the digital divide continues, libraries will continue serving every community member at every stage and from every walk of life."  

ALA will provide updates and communicate when it is clear what the court decision means for libraries and organizations which had previously applied for funding. FAQs and more information about the DEA are available on ALA’s Digital Equity Resources for Libraries webpage.  

About the American Library Association
The American Library Association is the largest non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to America’s libraries. The ALA mission is to empower and advocate for all libraries and library workers to ensure equitable access to information for all. For 150 years, ALA has provided resources for information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more information, visit www.ala.org.      

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