House Restores ReConnect Funding for FY26
House doubles funding for rural broadband program, despite Trump proposing cuts.
WASHINGTON, June 16, 2025 – A rural broadband program had its funding restored by a House Appropriations subcommittee on June 4.
The ReConnect Loan and Grant Program, which provides funding for broadband infrastructure in rural areas, received a proposed $90 million for Fiscal Year 2026 in a recent bill released by the House Appropriations Committee.
Although President Donald Trump proposed eliminating ReConnect program funding in his FY26 budget proposal (p. 140), House lawmakers chose not only to continue the funding, but more than double the program’s FY25 budget of $44 million. The bill still needs to be approved by the full House.
FROM SPEEDING BEAD SUMMIT
Panel 1: How Are States Thinking About Reasonable Costs Now?
Panel 2: Finding the State Versus Federal Balance in BEAD
Panel 3: Reacting to the New BEAD NOFO Guidance
Panel 4: Building, Maintaining and Adopting Digital Workforce Skills
The ReConnect funding is intended “to complement existing funds to deploy broadband to the most underserved areas,” said House Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Andy Harris, R-Maryland, in his remarks at a subcommittee meeting June 5.
ReConnect provides funding for the construction, improvement, and acquisition of broadband infrastructure for areas where more than 90% of households lack sufficient access to broadband.
Private organizations and nonprofits may apply for federal grants and loans to help bring broadband to rural communities.
