“Equity” is not a bad word.

Unfortunately, for the past few years, right-wing media and politicians have been blaming everything from inflation to plane crashes on “DEI,” an acronym for diversity, equity and inclusion.

Whatever your stance on DEI as a concept is, you’d think a reasonable person would be able to look at the Digital Equity Act and realize how important its programs are to rural Americans. However, much like a lazy student, the federal government seems to have only read the title of the Digital Equity Act and pronounced it — wait for it — “racist.”

Some background. The Digital Equity Act was included in a bipartisan infrastructure bill signed into law under the Biden administration. The bill included several programs to improve high-speed internet and technology access in underserved communities. In Maine, that largely means rural communities.

These are some of the specific programs that the Trump administration is cutting:

• $10 million for a state grant program to help nonprofits and community organizations expand internet and technology access, a statewide device donation and refurbishment campaign and an educational platform for technical assistance.

• $13.8 million to provide digital skills training, technical support, telehealth access and affordable device programs in Maine through partner organizations including the Maine State Library, Maine Community College System and the Maine Adult Education Association.

• $11 million for the Greater Portland Council of Governments to provide technology and digital skills education, digital services for municipal governments, device programs and business support programs. (You ever wonder why it’s so annoying to do anything on your town’s website? This grant was supposed to make that easier.)

These programs would have assisted around 130,000 people — almost a tenth of our entire population. Programs already underway in communities in York County, and which are now jeopardized by the rescission of funding, include an internet hot spot program to serve immigrants and refugees, educating elderly residents to prevent them from falling victim to online scams and fraud and providing laptops to homeless veterans so they can look for jobs and housing.

I’ve often heard Americans say that we should help homeless veterans in our communities before welcoming new immigrants. Well, now nobody gets any help. And I guarantee you we have a lot more elderly people in Maine than we do refugees. The reason President Trump gave for ending this program is that it was “totally UNCONSTITUTIONAL” and “a RACIST and ILLEGAL 2.5 BILLION DOLLAR GIVEAWAY.” (Caps lock the president’s, not mine.)

Now, it’s my point of view that these programs are not “giveaways.” They are investments, like any education or infrastructure is an investment. But I can at least understand the argument that it’s a waste of money or not something the government should be doing. But for the life of me I cannot figure out what is “racist” about the Digital Equity Act programs. Especially here in Maine, where our state is 94% white, and those numbers go up even further in rural areas.

I can only assume that Trump saw the word “equity” in the bill’s title and assumed there was racial intent within. That does not bode well for anyone who wants to apply for a home equity line of credit.

We live in a rapidly evolving modern age of technology. Ability to adapt to new computers, new programs and new devices largely depends on the familiarity you might have had growing up with similar things. As a millennial, I grew up with computers in the house, and tend to be able to quickly figure out and adapt to new technology when it presents itself to me in my life: a new phone, a new telehealth platform from my doctor’s office, a new grocery store coupon application (or “app”).

But I know for a fact that a lot of older folks in Maine, who didn’t grow up with tech at their fingertips, can struggle to learn and adapt to the new necessities of life. Not all of them, of course, and I know plenty of people my own age who are hapless at computers, but speaking in generalizations. (If it make you feel better there are lots of older skills I don’t have; I can’t drive a stick shift and I’m terrible at map reading).

Losing these programs is going to hurt Trump voters disproportionately. Liberal city dwellers will always have access to high-speed internet options. They don’t need to depend as much on telehealth doctor’s visits because the closest specialist they have is 200 miles away. Students in small-town schools deserve to be able to use technology in their studies and to prepare them for the future workplace just as easily as students in wealthy communities.

It’s unfair, and I’m not just saying that because I live in a rural area. I’ll be fine without those programs. A lot of my neighbors won’t.