Trump administration cuts $35M in grants to help Mainers with digital skills and online safety

By Christopher Burns, Bangor Daily News Staff

The Trump administration has cut $35 million in grants to help Mainers with digital skills and online safety.

The federal government informed the Maine Connectivity Authority that it was ending the three grants as of Friday, the state agency said Monday.

“This announcement is deeply disappointing, and MCA is exploring Maine’s options to respond to the legality of the grant termination,” Maine Connectivity Authority President Andrew Butcher said in a statement. “Our team is evaluating how to best proceed with critical programming and investments currently underway through our statewide digital equity strategy.” 

Those funds were meant to improve digital skills, provide internet safety education (such as around preventing Mainers from falling victim to cybercrimes) and ensure access to affordable devices, according to the Maine Connectivity Authority.

It said that the cuts will disproportionately affect older, poor and rural residents; veterans; small businesses; and students.

Nearly 130,000 Mainers have been served through the severed grants, the Maine Connectivity Authority said.

“The loss of these federal funds will have a ripple effect across Maine, impacting the economy as well as access to education, work, and healthcare,” said Maggie Drummond-Bahl, senior director of partnerships for the authority. 

Maine isn’t the only state affected by the cuts. The connectivity authority said it’s part of a nationwide cut affecting every state and U.S. territory, as well as 65 organizations.