June 09, 2025

Duckworth, Durbin Lead Illinois Colleagues in Condemning Trump’s Termination of Digital Equity Program, Blocking Illinoisans’ Access to Reliable Internet

 

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) led 12 of their Illinois delegation members in criticizing the Trump Administration’s cancellation of the Digital Equity Act Competitive Grants Program. In a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, the Members urged the Trump Administration to reinstate the program that was terminated last month. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) was in the process of implementing a Digital Equity Capacity Grant under this program, which would have provided more than $23.7 million to Illinois organizations across the state to equip households and residents with the skills, resources and tools needed to use high-speed internet and fully participate in Illinois’s economy.

“This is not a, ‘woke handout based on race.’ This is help for households with the highest need based on historic and ongoing barriers to getting online, such as living in a rural area,” the Members wrote. “This not only includes racial and ethnic minorities, but also, Veterans, people with disabilities, rural residents and older adults (ages 60 years or older). Nearly 80% of Illinois residents belong to at least one of the categories of individuals the law is designed to assist,”

“Without these funds, programs that help job seekers create a resume to apply for jobs, help farmers use data to optimize crop and livestock production, help seniors pay their bills online and speak with their healthcare providers and help entrepreneurs to develop a website would be slashed.”

Along with Duckworth and Durbin, the letter is co-signed by U.S. Representatives Jonathan Jackson (D-IL-01), Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03), Jesús “Chuy” García (D-IL-04), Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Sean Casten (D-IL-06), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Brad Schneider (D-IL-10), Bill Foster (D-IL-11), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13) and Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17).

The full text of the letter is available on Senator Duckworth’s website and below.

Dear Secretary Lutnick,

We strongly object to May 9, 2025, termination of Digital Equity Act (DEA) funding and request that the U.S. Department of Commerce reinstate this funding immediately.

Under the Constitution, Congress makes spending decisions.

Congress recognized that broadband access and digital literacy are increasingly critical for employment, education, healthcare and participation in the broader economy. Accordingly, in a bipartisan manner, Congress provided $2.75 billion for the states to help ensure that all households have the technology, skills and capacity to access and benefit from the digital economy. Illinois has been awarded $23.7 million through the Digital Equity Capacity Grant, and organizations working throughout our State have also been awarded grant funds for multi-state Digital Equity Competitive Grant projects.

This is not a, “woke handout based on race[.]” This is help for households with the highest need based on historic and ongoing barriers to getting online, such as living in a rural area. This not only includes racial and ethnic minorities, but also, Veterans, people with disabilities, rural residents and older adults (ages 60 years or older). Nearly 80% of Illinois residents belong to at least one of the categories of individuals the law is designed to assist.

Without these funds, programs that help job seekers create a resume to apply for jobs, help farmers use data to optimize crop and livestock production, help seniors pay their bills online and speak with their healthcare providers and help entrepreneurs to develop a website would be slashed.

Additionally, investments in digital skill building and device access generates a significant return on investment for Americans and U.S. businesses. According to a report from the National Skills Coalition, people who qualify for jobs that require at least one digital skill earn, on average, 23% more than those working in jobs that require none. This represents an increase of $8,000 per year for an individual worker. The impact on wages is even higher for jobs that require more digital skills. Businesses that can hire job seekers with more skills up front must therefore invest less in upskilling them.

We urge you to reverse course and reinstate this critical funding.

Sincerely,

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