Senator Rosen Announces She’s Going To Block Expedited Confirmation of Trump Commerce Department Nominees That Oversee Or Deal With Broadband Until Nevada Gets Funding
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) released a statement condemning the Trump Administration’s reckless decision to rescind Nevada’s approval to receive its share of Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program funding. The BEAD program was created to connect families in the hardest-to-serve communities to high-speed internet and close the digital divide.
Senator Rosen worked across party lines to help create the BEAD program, and she secured $416 million for Nevada through BEAD. The state has been fully approved to receive this funding since January 2025. Given the Administration’s pause and delay of the program, Senator Rosen led 11 of her colleagues in a letter last month demanding that the Trump Administration immediately release funding for the program. The Trump Administration’s new guidance will rescind this final approval and hinder Nevada’s ability to connect Nevadans to high-speed internet.
“I’m beyond outraged that the Trump Administration has moved the goal post yet again and rescinded Nevada’s approval to get the BEAD funding I secured to connect the hardest-to-reach communities in our state to high-speed internet,” said Senator Rosen. “This decision will put Nevada’s broadband funding in jeopardy, and it’s a slap in the face to rural communities that need access to high-speed internet. I’m going to put a hold on all nominations for Commerce Department positions that oversee or deal with broadband policy in any way, and block their expedited confirmation, until Nevada gets its BEAD funding.”
Senator Rosen has been a strong advocate for expanding high-speed internet access in Nevada. Through her efforts, she has secured $550 million in federal funding through various programs and legislation for the High Speed Nevada Initiative, including the Middle Mile Infrastructure Grant Program she created. Senator Rosen helped write the broadband section of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, securing $65 billion in overall nationwide investments to make high-speed internet affordable for Americans. She also successfully pushed the Federal Communications Commission to update its deeply flawed National Broadband Map and ensure Nevada receives its fair share of BEAD funding.
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